Madonna of Humility 1420

Masaccio made this Madonna of Humility in the early 15th century using tempera and gold on panel. Tempera is a traditional painting medium involving egg yolk, giving the paint a luminous quality. The gold leaf, applied meticulously, emphasizes the divine nature of the Madonna and Child. The panel itself would have been prepared by artisans, who would have applied layers of gesso, a white ground, to create a smooth surface for painting. This division of labor highlights the collaborative nature of art production at the time. The material influences the artwork's appearance, its inherent qualities of texture, color, and form. The use of gold connects to wider issues of labor, politics, and consumption. The gold leaf involved significant work in its production and was a precious material reflecting wealth and power. The intense work of the artist to apply the gold leaf suggests the importance of materials, making, and context in understanding the full meaning of an artwork.