Aegina Visited by Jupiter c. 1767 - 1769

Jean-Baptiste Greuze created this painting using oil paints on canvas. The material itself is fascinating. Oil paint, made from pigment suspended in oil, allowed artists like Greuze to achieve a remarkable luminosity and depth. Notice the textures he creates, from the soft, yielding flesh of Aegina to the heavy drapery and the ominous, smoky form of Jupiter appearing as an eagle. These effects were achieved through layering paint, a slow and deliberate process. Greuze would have built up the image in stages, allowing each layer to dry before applying the next. In this painting, the artist's craft highlights social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. It also challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, where materials, making, and context are important when understanding the full meaning of an artwork.