Man of Sorrows 1480

Geertgen tot Sint Jans painted this image of the Man of Sorrows in the late fifteenth century. It’s oil on panel, a medium that afforded the artist incredible control of his material. Look closely at the painting’s surface and the meticulous detail, which together create a heightened sense of realism. Note the blood droplets, the texture of the wood, and the expressions on the faces of the figures surrounding Christ. Oil paint was prized for its capacity to represent the world, and the artist shows his virtuosity here. But it is important to remember that there was labor involved in the preparation of the oil paints themselves, the grinding of pigments, and the preparation of the panel. This painting is a manifestation of human skill, as well as a meditation on suffering. It reminds us that even the most apparently effortless art is the result of dedicated work.