Cupid And Psyche 

Jean-François de Troy created this painting of Cupid and Psyche, with oil paint on canvas, sometime in the 18th century. Oil paint allowed the artist to work slowly, building up layer after layer of pigment, creating this highly polished finish, and life-like depiction of flesh. Looking closely, we can appreciate the labor involved. The bedclothes, arranged in disarray, tell of the human drama enacted here. The light is also carefully arranged. It falls across Psyche’s body, while also revealing the sumptuous curtains behind the bed, and the classical statue, which is only half visible. The artist’s skill in rendering fabric and skin are what would have been most valued by viewers at the time. These displays of virtuosity distinguished “fine” art from other kinds of skilled work. But to truly appreciate this painting, we must also acknowledge all the labor—from mining to manufacturing—required to produce these precious pigments and expensive textiles. This artwork speaks to the hierarchies of skill and value that continue to shape the art world today.