Untitled 

This ‘Untitled’ painting was made by Henri Fantin-Latour, who lived from 1836 to 1904. Fantin-Latour’s luscious style, which uses oil paint, is rooted in the traditions of the old masters, a process of layering paint to create luminous colours and blurred forms. But it's also modern: the sensuous application of the paint itself feels as important as the classical subject matter. Look closely, and you’ll see how the artist has exploited the inherent qualities of oil paint, its texture, and its capacity to blend seamlessly. The careful buildup of glazes gives the flesh tones a soft, radiant quality, while the heavy impasto in areas like the drapery adds a tactile dimension. Although Fantin-Latour was clearly an artist of great skill and refinement, he lived and worked in an era of increasing industrialisation. Mass-produced art materials and the commodification of artistic labour meant that even traditional practices were inevitably touched by the forces of capitalism. Understanding this tension between handcraft and industrial production adds another layer of meaning to this ‘Untitled’ work.