Lust for Gold 1840 - 1879

Thomas Couture created Lust for Gold using oil on canvas. The painting’s loose brushwork and sketch-like quality reflects a modern sensibility, yet the material itself – oil paint – had been a staple of academic art for centuries. Couture's application of paint varies across the canvas. Notice the impasto in the figures’ faces, creating texture that conveys their intensity, contrasted with the smoother treatment of their clothing. The artist skillfully manipulates the oil paint to create depth and volume with visible brushstrokes, suggesting a dynamic and expressive scene. The subject matter ties into wider social issues of greed and corruption during the Industrial Revolution, a period of rapid economic change. The faces and figures appear rough-hewn, a product of visible labor in the studio. Considering the materials and techniques used by Couture allows us to appreciate the painting not just as a representation, but also as a testament to his technical skill.