The Paseo de las Delicias, in Madrid 1785

"The Paseo de las Delicias, in Madrid" was painted by Francisco Bayeu y Subias using oil on canvas. It's a traditional medium, but oil allows for remarkable detail, which speaks to the society that Bayeu y Subias represents. Consider the work involved in constructing the scene depicted. The clothing, for example, indicates a culture dependent on skilled labor: tailors, seamstresses, lacemakers, and textile workers. The leisurely scene with aristocrats enjoying a stroll shows us the sharp division of labor, where some enjoy the fruits of others' hard work. Even the landscape is shaped by human activity. Bayeu y Subias' painting captures a moment in time, but it also reveals the underlying social and economic structures that support this very specific way of life. It reminds us that what we see is always filtered through the lens of production and the often-invisible labor that makes it all possible.