Portrait of Wilhelmine Preetorius 1896

Philip Alexius de László painted this portrait of Wilhelmine Preetorius using oil on canvas. The way he used the material is remarkable. Look at the shawl around the sitter's head. De László captured the lightweight material with a light color palette, and a series of delicate brushstrokes that imply texture and movement. Now, notice the subject's hand with a ring, a possible signifier of her belonging to a high social class. The application of paint in this portrait suggests that the artist was a skilled tradesperson working to a commission for a wealthy patron. De László's painting reflects the dynamics of labor and class within the art world. The artwork is an object that carries social and cultural meaning. The material qualities, process, and social context are crucial to fully understand its value as an artwork.