In the Studio 1888

Alfred Stevens's painting, *In the Studio*, is a masterful example of oil on canvas. The layered application of paint creates a richness and depth that draws the viewer into the intimate world of the artist's studio. Stevens, a Belgian painter, captures the textures of fabric, the gleam of gilt frames, and the soft glow of light on skin with remarkable skill. The materials themselves—the canvas, the pigments, the brushes—are all testaments to a long tradition of European painting. Yet, the scene also speaks to a changing world, where art became increasingly entwined with commerce and display. The painting showcases the trappings of a bourgeois lifestyle: the opulent fabrics, the fashionable clothing, the carefully arranged studio space. It invites us to consider the role of art in shaping and reflecting social status, and the labour involved in producing both the artwork and the lifestyle it depicts. *In the Studio* challenges us to look beyond the surface and to consider the complex interplay of materials, making, and social context in understanding the full meaning of the artwork.