Turk Bargainer 

Constantin Artachino created this portrait, Turk Bargainer, using oil paint, likely on canvas or board. Oil paint is a versatile medium, allowing for rich colors and subtle gradations through layering and blending. The artist seems to have built up the image with visible brushstrokes, particularly noticeable in the background and the drapery of the turban, giving the piece an impressionistic feel. The relatively smooth application to the face suggests the artist may have wanted to draw your attention to the individual's character and perceived social role. Consider the title - Artachino is presenting the man as a ‘bargainer’, a merchant perhaps. We might then think about the context of trade and exchange in the late 19th and early 20th century, when the painting was made. The turban itself is a form of material culture, a fabric transformed into a culturally specific form. This reminds us that all materials carry social meaning, and that even a ‘fine art’ like painting is deeply embedded in everyday life.