St. James the Less 1610 - 1614

El Greco rendered "St. James the Less" with oil on canvas, a common medium during his time. But it's the handling of the paint that’s most distinctive. Look closely and you'll see a freedom in the brushwork, with elongated figures and dramatic lighting, which creates a sense of heightened spirituality. He built up layers of thin paint, called glazes, to achieve the rich, luminous colours. The materiality is more about illusion than substance, but the illusion is powerful. Consider the social context of El Greco's work. As a painter in Counter-Reformation Spain, his art served the religious and political agendas of the time. By using his material in this way, he made the spiritual seem palpable. This was not mere decoration, but propaganda rendered with exquisite skill. So, when you look at "St. James the Less," remember that the materials and the making are inseparable from the meaning.