PORTRAIT OF PRINCE ALEXEI GOLITSYN WITH HIS DOG, SEATED IN A WOODED LANDSCAPE 

Joseph Kreutzinger created this oil on canvas portrait of Prince Alexei Golitsyn sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. Oil paint allowed Kreutzinger to create a hyperrealistic depiction of the fabrics, surfaces, and textures that define the Prince's status. Consider the intense labor behind this supposedly effortless image. From the cultivation of flax for the canvas to the grinding of mineral pigments for the paints, the production of this artwork relied on global systems of extraction, manufacture, and trade. The painting's smooth surface belies the many layers of thin, translucent glazes needed to achieve such lifelike luminosity. The Prince's tailored clothes and the sleek fur of his dog reflect the quality materials and time spent on their rendering. The painting isn't just about the Prince; it’s about the vast network of making that sustains his world. By recognizing the making, materiality, and context, we appreciate the significance of art, and how it challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.