J. Carter Brown 

This portrait of J. Carter Brown was painted by Nelson Shanks using traditional oil paints on canvas. It is a medium most often associated with high art, with a history stretching back centuries, and a set of techniques that have been refined over generations. Shanks’s application of paint is particularly interesting here. Note how the loose brushwork captures the texture of Brown’s suit, contrasting with the smoother handling of his face. This contrast gives a sense of the man’s personality – his intelligence, his social standing, and the way he presents himself to the world. The materiality of the paint itself, with its varying viscosities and opacities, adds depth and richness to the image. Oil painting has long been tied to patronage. This portrait is no exception, as it immortalizes a powerful figure within the art world, who has been elevated to a state of lasting significance through the artist’s labor and skill. Paying attention to the materials and processes employed here allows us to consider the social dynamics embedded within the artwork itself.