In the garden (Alaide and Ottavio Banti) 1884

Giovanni Boldini created this intimate portrait of Alaide and Ottavio Banti using oil on panel. Boldini was known for his virtuoso brushwork, a skill that allowed him to capture the dynamism of modern life. Here, the material properties of oil paint – its viscosity, its capacity for layering and blending – are fully exploited. Notice how Boldini uses loose, gestural strokes to create a sense of movement and informality. The sitters, possibly mother and child, are not stiffly posed, but captured in a moment of casual repose. The visible brushstrokes remind us of the artist's hand, the labor involved in producing this image. This approach, emphasizing the act of painting, challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft. The artist’s virtuosity, skill, and vision are all on display, blurring the line between representation and abstraction. Ultimately, it's the way Boldini uses paint, his engagement with the materiality of his medium, that gives the work its expressive power.