Self-portrait as Doge Gritti 1870

Editor: This painting, "Self-portrait as Doge Gritti," was completed in 1870 by Francesco Hayez. He used oil paints. It gives off a serious, almost melancholic mood. What strikes me most is how raw the material seems; you can almost feel the texture of the canvas and paint. What can you tell me about it? Curator: What is particularly interesting here is not necessarily the likeness, but the materiality involved in its creation and reception. The oil paint itself—pigment suspended in oil, industrially produced by this point—allowed Hayez a level of control and saturation unattainable by earlier tempera. Consider the socio-economic implications of oil paint's accessibility in 1870. Editor: I hadn't thought about the industrial aspect of paint production impacting the artwork so directly. It sounds like it provided more access? Curator: Precisely. How did access to materials affect artistic labor? Was it more paintings done at this period because more paints were made available through the market economy? These are things to consider with such works. This portrait now exists in our moment through various processes – photography, archiving, museum display… These impact how we see this. Editor: It makes you wonder about the labor involved not just in creating the art but preserving it. It also reframes the act of painting itself. Thanks, that's really helpful. Curator: Indeed. Seeing art as more than just image allows a critical viewing of how materials play a significant role in its creation and its continued presence.