Portrait of Mme. Paulin 

Pierre-Auguste Renoir created this portrait of Madame Paulin using oil paints on canvas. The quick, loose brushwork, especially visible in the background, exemplifies the techniques of Impressionism. But let’s focus on the materiality of the sitter’s dress. Notice the sheen, undoubtedly achieved with expensive silk, which shimmers with reflected light thanks to the skilled weaving of the fabric. It is through the combined labor of silkworm cultivation, textile production, and dressmaking that the sitter can signal her wealth and status. Even the application of paint on canvas becomes a kind of labor, mimicking the work of industrial production through its patterned, repetitive strokes. Consider the way the artist has described her dress, almost as a product of mass manufacture, the brushstrokes mirroring the woven textile. This invites us to consider how the modes of production and consumption are reflected in the artistic process itself. By emphasizing materials, making, and context, we can understand the full meaning of Renoir's artwork.