Count F. A. Tolstoy 1827

This is Count F.A. Tolstoy, painted by George Dawe in the early 19th century using oil on canvas, a common combination for portraiture at the time. What’s most striking is how Dawe uses the materiality of paint to convey status. Look at the Count's fur-lined coat, rendered with thick, impasto strokes that mimic the texture and volume of real fur. This isn’t just about surface appearance; it speaks to the labor involved in acquiring and crafting such garments, and the wealth required to possess them. Similarly, the subtle gradations of light on his face and the details of the book hint at leisure and intellectual pursuits, privileges of the upper class. Dawe masterfully employs traditional techniques to reinforce Tolstoy’s position in society, embedding social meaning within the very fabric of the artwork. This challenges the idea of fine art existing in a realm apart from the material realities of labor, politics, and consumption.