Repose 1895

John White Alexander painted this artwork using oil paint, a medium employed since the Middle Ages. Here, the material is handled in a way that renders a languid scene: a woman reclining, the fabric of her dress rippling around her, the pillows yielding to her weight. Oil paint, being viscous, allows for the blending of tones and the capturing of light and shadow. The artist applied thin layers of paint to build up the image, giving it a soft, luminous quality. Consider the labor involved in the production of paintings like this one. Oil paint itself is manufactured, requiring the extraction of pigments and the processing of oils. The canvas must be prepared, the brushes and palette cleaned. While the artist's hand is evident in the final product, there is an entire economy of production that supports it. Thinking about the social context of this painting, it's easy to imagine the sitter's dress replicated many times over by unseen labor. So, even in a seemingly simple painting, materials, making, and context are key to understanding its meaning. It is more than just an image, but a product of its time.