The Death of Priam 1817

Pierre-Narcisse Guerin made "The Death of Priam" using oil paint on canvas. The nature of oil paint, with its capacity for layering and blending, allows the artist to create a highly finished surface. This slickness, typical of academic painting, was often intended to conceal the labor involved in the work’s production. The material has a direct influence on the appearance of the artwork, enabling a high level of detail and realism that brings the dramatic scene to life. The artist's engagement with these classical traditions and aesthetics reflect the social and cultural values of the time. This Neoclassical style with its emphasis on order, reason, and idealized forms mirrors the wider social and political issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Paying attention to the materiality and production of artworks encourages us to consider their broader cultural and social contexts. We can begin to question established hierarchies and explore the complex relationships between artists, materials, and society.