Supper at Emmaus 

Joachim Wtewael created this painting, Supper at Emmaus, using oil paints, a costly and laborious medium. The luminosity in this scene isn’t just a function of skillful painting. Think, for a moment, about the production of oil paint in Wtewael’s time. Pigments had to be painstakingly ground, then mixed with oil, a process often involving apprentices. The quality of the materials mattered, too. The vibrant colors here suggest that Wtewael used high-grade pigments, perhaps even the prized ultramarine, derived from lapis lazuli. The cost of these materials speaks to Wtewael's economic position. As a painter, Wtewael was engaged in a sophisticated, market-driven enterprise, producing luxury goods for a discerning clientele. But this painting transcends mere commerce. By emphasizing the play of light and shadow, and the expressive gestures of the figures, Wtewael elevates the everyday act of breaking bread into a moment of spiritual revelation. Considering the materials and making of a work like this helps us understand its place in society. It wasn't just painted; it was crafted, traded, and valued within a complex network of human relationships.