Nights of Indolence 

William Balthazar Rose's painting, "Nights of Indolence," uses the traditional medium of oil paint to create a composition that invites us to consider the artist's creative process. Rose uses the medium to blend a range of different painting techniques, combining realism and abstraction, such as in his depiction of figures in the foreground, painted with precision and anatomical detail, and those in the background, in the form of crude brushstrokes. Oil paint also allows Rose to capture a range of textures, from the smooth skin of the figures to the rough surface of the stage. The amount of work that has gone into this piece is reflected in the artist’s layering of brushstrokes, which add depth and complexity to the figures. The dream-like quality of this painting is emphasized by the contrast of the figures' poses and their mysterious gaze, prompting reflection on the amount of labor, politics, and consumption involved in creating an artwork like this. It invites us to consider the social context from which Rose draws inspiration, and the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.