Self-portrait 1892

This self-portrait was rendered by Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky, employing oil paint on canvas. Aivazovsky’s choice of the traditional medium of oil paint, ground from pigment and linseed oil, is significant. His masterful handling of the viscous material is evident in the textures he coaxes from it, such as the heavy, dark velvet of his jacket contrasting with the frothy crests of waves in the painting behind. The weight of the oil paint mirrors the weight of the medals he wears, emblems of honor and service. In the 19th century, oil paint was a standardized industrial product, available in tubes. The ease of access allowed artists to focus on their technique and vision. But let’s not forget the manual labor involved in the preparation of the canvas, the mixing of paints, and the countless brushstrokes that build up the image. The portrait is a testament to Aivazovsky’s skill, but it also reflects the socio-economic structures that supported his artistic practice, elevating him to a position of prestige and patronage, which has traditionally separated fine art and craft.