Elizabeth Drax, Countess of Berkeley 1760

Joshua Reynolds painted Elizabeth Drax, Countess of Berkeley, using oil on canvas. Reynolds has created an image of luxury, but how did the materials used in the countess's clothing come to be? Consider the textures and the details that Reynolds has captured. The shimmering silk of the dress and the soft fur trim speak to the labor and resources required to produce such fine materials. The lace trim around the sleeves, for instance, was a highly skilled, hand-made product. Reynolds was a master of illusion, able to evoke the tactile qualities of these materials with just a few strokes of paint. But the materials themselves represent an economy sustained by the work of others, whether skilled artisans or laborers involved in the extraction of raw materials. It's important to think about the world behind the image, and to challenge the traditional distinction between fine art and craft. It's only when we do this that we can fully understand its meaning.