The Hunt of Diana 

Peter Paul Reubens created 'The Hunt of Diana' with oil on canvas. It’s a preparatory sketch, and the looseness of the brushwork is very evident. Rubens had a huge studio workshop, and he would often make sketches like this that would then be handed off to assistants for completion. In fact, his workshop operated almost like a factory, producing a large number of paintings for wealthy patrons. The layering of paint, one of the most fundamental skills of any painter, is on full display here. As is the knowledge of how to prepare animal hide glue to stretch a canvas, mix paints with linseed oil and turpentine, and how to layer to create a believable depiction of light. It's fascinating to consider how the art world has traditionally valued the finished product over the process, often overlooking the labor and skill involved in creating these works. But by focusing on the making, we can appreciate not only the artist's vision but also the contributions of the many hands that brought it to life.