Moses's Journey into Egypt 1482

Pietro Perugino painted this panel of Moses’s Journey into Egypt, using oil on wood, sometime in the late 15th century. Like other painters of his era, Perugino would have been reliant on a workshop system to produce work like this. We can imagine apprentices grinding pigments, preparing the panel, and assisting with the underpainting. Then, Perugino would have added the refined details, particularly the subtle gradations of light and shadow that give the scene its atmospheric depth. Note the way the colors and tones are layered. From a pale horizon, Perugino moves forward through middle ground filled with people, and ultimately to the foreground figures who carry jugs and children. It's easy to overlook the sheer labor involved in such a work. By considering the processes and modes of production involved in this image, we can look past the surface and engage with its complex meaning. This challenges the traditional distinction between the fine and decorative arts.