Cornélie Scheffer enfant c. 19th century

Ary Scheffer captured this image of Cornélie Scheffer enfant using oil on canvas. Oil paint is traditionally made by combining ground pigments with drying oil, like linseed. Scheffer's application of the material is very loose, and differs markedly from the highly finished surfaces usually associated with fine art painting. Notice how the brushstrokes are clearly visible, especially in the background and the sitter's clothing. The paint appears almost translucent in places, allowing the canvas texture to show through. These expressive qualities underscore the amount of physical work involved in applying the paint. They also suggest spontaneity, as if Scheffer were keen to capture a fleeting impression rather than a carefully rendered likeness. This approach, which embraces process and material, helps us appreciate that all art is the product of labor and that even portraiture can be a site of experiment.