Piet J. Joubert 1890

Thérèse Schwartze painted this portrait of Piet Joubert using oil on canvas, a favored medium of the Dutch upper class during the late 19th century. Schwartze employs visible brushstrokes and thick layers of paint, a technique known as impasto, particularly evident in rendering the textures of Joubert's beard and the gold embellishments on his uniform. The materiality of the paint itself becomes expressive, conveying not just the likeness of Joubert but also the weight and substance of his status. This approach to painting, while rooted in fine art traditions, shares an interest in materiality with craft practices. Here, the very act of applying paint becomes a tactile, almost sculptural process. This reminds us that all art, regardless of its perceived status, involves skilled labor and a deep engagement with materials, challenging the traditional hierarchy between art and craft.