Venus and Mars 

Palma il Giovane made this painting of Venus and Mars sometime around the turn of the 17th century, using oil paint on canvas. Oil paint is of course a classic medium, and it allowed Palma il Giovane to create rich textures and colors. Just look at the way light interacts with the folds of fabric and the skin of the figures! You can almost feel the smoothness of the sheets, the weight of the armor. Oil paint allowed the artist to blend colors seamlessly and capture the subtleties of light and shadow. This kind of technique requires time, skill, and precious materials. In other words, there's a whole economy embedded in its making. It wasn't just about individual expression, but also about patronage, workshop production, and the circulation of luxury goods. So next time you look at an oil painting, don't just admire the image, think about the labor, the materials, and the social context that made it possible.