The head of young man 

Théodore Géricault created this oil painting, ‘The Head of a Young Man’ using the traditional medium and methods of painting on canvas. Notice how the fluid quality of the paint, which Géricault manipulated to perfection, influences the appearance of the artwork. He skillfully models light and shadow to create a palpable sense of form and depth, blending tones, softening edges, and rendering the curves of the face and hair. Géricault, like many academic painters of his time, would have undergone rigorous training in the use of these materials, learning how to prepare canvases, mix pigments, and apply paint in layers to achieve desired effects. But this method of making art wasn't just about replicating the world, it was about interpreting it, and breathing life into it on the canvas. Considering the amount of work involved in the process of mixing pigments, layering paint, and modeling form, we can appreciate the artist's skill, challenging the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.