The Love Letter 

Alfred Stevens created The Love Letter with oil on canvas. The artist’s hand is evident in the meticulous layering of paint, a testament to both academic training and a keen observation of the world. Stevens pays close attention to the material culture of his time, evoking the textures of the sitter's luxurious garments. Consider the sheen of the silk skirt, rendered with subtle gradations of light. Think about the labor required to produce these textiles, from silk cultivation to weaving and dyeing – and the vast social inequalities that made such garments accessible only to a privileged few. The artist’s skilled brushwork celebrates the exquisite craftsmanship of these material goods. The painting also brings into focus the significance of letter writing as a form of communication in the nineteenth century. Like the fabrics themselves, each painstakingly written letter represented a significant investment of labor. By considering the making of things, we can better understand the social context of Stevens’s art, challenging any strict distinction between art and craft.