Tobiah and the Fates 

Jacek Malczewski painted Tobiah and the Fates using traditional oil on canvas, a common medium in academic painting. The smooth blending of colors and precise brushwork create an idealized scene. However, the artwork holds deeper meaning when we consider the labor and societal context embedded in its making. The artist relies on a well-established system of art production. Canvas must be primed, paints ground, and brushes maintained - tasks often performed by studio assistants. The level of finish in this painting would depend on the division of labor and resources available. The artist's skill in rendering textures and portraying figures with classical undertones speaks to a conscious choice to engage with, and perhaps challenge, accepted notions of what constitutes fine art. Malczewski asks us to consider not just the final image, but also the processes, materials, and skilled labor that bring such a creation to life.