Head of a Young Girl 1870

Henri Fantin-Latour created this intimate portrait of a young girl using oil paint, a material synonymous with fine art. But think for a moment about the labour involved in making this painting. Fantin-Latour would have started with a primed canvas, its surface prepared to receive thin layers of pigment. He then carefully mixed his paints, combining ground pigments with linseed oil to achieve the desired colours and consistency. Look closely, and you'll notice the subtle blending of tones, and the way he has built up form with delicate brushstrokes. These are the marks of a highly trained hand, someone skilled in the traditions of academic painting. This was a world of apprenticeships, studio practice, and years of dedicated work to master the craft. Fantin-Latour belonged to a generation that elevated painting to a higher calling. Yet, as we consider this beautiful portrait, it is worth remembering that the art of painting is, in essence, a process of skilled labor, one that should not be divorced from its social and material origins.