Pygmalion 

This painting, Pygmalion, was made by Franz von Stuck, and it appears to be oil on canvas, a traditional medium for painting. The rough texture of the paint is very evident and it gives the figures weight and presence. You can even see the tools of Pygmalion's trade, discarded on the floor. The artist has used these conventional materials to explore the myth of Pygmalion, a sculptor who falls in love with his own creation, and asks Venus to bring her to life. But, looking closely, it is clear that von Stuck is also interested in the conditions of labor. Pygmalion is on his knees, and in supplication, while his sculpture towers above him, seemingly alive, but also an artifact made by hand. It is a commentary on the power of human creativity, but also the politics of labor and class. What does it mean to bring something to life, through skillful and laborious action? We can appreciate this piece not just for its story, but also for its emphasis on the act of creation, inviting us to consider the relationship between the artist, their materials, and the world they inhabit.