Courtship 

"Courtship" was painted by Edmund Blair Leighton, likely sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century, using traditional oil paints on canvas. Notice Leighton's meticulous rendering of the scene. He's skillfully captured the textures of fabric, the play of light on water, and the subtle gradations of color in the architecture. But it is important to remember that none of this just appears by magic. It is all the result of the artist's labor, and his mastery of traditional techniques. While Leighton's subject matter – a romantic encounter – seems far removed from the concerns of labor and class, think about the social context in which this painting was made. The late 19th century was a time of great social change, with industrialization transforming the landscape and creating new forms of labor and class division. Paintings like this, with their idealized visions of beauty and romance, offered a form of escapism for a society grappling with these profound changes. Ultimately, understanding the materials, processes, and social context of "Courtship" allows us to see it not just as a pretty picture, but as a reflection of the complex world in which it was created.