Christ Healing the Blindman 1720 - 1730

Christ Healing the Blindman was painted on canvas by Gerardus Duyckinck I, who worked in New York in the early 18th century. Duyckinck’s style is distinguished by the direct, unaffected quality achieved through his technique. He applied thin layers of oil paint, building up the composition gradually, a method reflecting his training as a limner, who painted portraits and decorative surfaces. In this painting, the artist is economical with paint application. The pigments are mixed with a lot of medium, producing a smooth surface that is very different from the impasto achieved by contemporary European painters. The result of this approach emphasizes the narrative moment over painterly virtuosity. In a way, this painting could be considered a type of folk art, and we can see how different histories of painting practice and aesthetics can run parallel. Looking at this painting, we should appreciate the importance of materials, making, and context in understanding an artwork's full meaning, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.