Sainte Elisabeth De Hongrie Soignant Les Malades 

Pierre-Auguste Cot created this painting of Sainte Elisabeth de Hongrie in the 19th century using traditional materials: oil paints applied to a woven canvas. The painting’s appearance is deeply connected to its materiality. Oil paint allows for rich colors and subtle gradations of light and shadow, as you can see in the architecture in the background, the robes of the figures, and the faces of the sick. The weave of the canvas, though mostly hidden by the paint, gives a subtle texture to the surface. Cot likely built up the image through layers of paint, a slow process that demanded patience and careful planning, quite similar to the acts of caregiving depicted. The skilled labor to create the painting should be considered alongside the labor depicted in the scene, as both have social and cultural significance. The careful handling of the materials and the thoughtful composition invite us to reflect on the value of both artistic and social work, challenging us to see how both are intertwined.