Girl in blue looking in a mirror 

Alfred Stevens made this oil painting, "Girl in blue looking in a mirror," in the 19th century. The painting’s surface has a tangible, textured quality thanks to the artist's dynamic brushwork. The way Stevens applied the paint reveals his process. Look closely, and you'll see the vigorous strokes that define the woman's form and clothing. These aren’t blended to perfection; instead, they retain a sense of immediacy. This technique, while celebrated in fine art, shares an affinity with the rapid execution seen in craft traditions where speed and efficiency are prized. The blue of her dress isn’t just color, it represents the labor of textile production, and the global trade networks that brought such dyes and fabrics to Europe. Consider the social context of this work. It invites us to reflect on the relationship between fine art and the wider world of making, labor, and consumption.