Christ Among The Doctors In The Temple 

Jusepe de Ribera made this painting, Christ Among the Doctors in the Temple, sometime in the 17th century, using oil on canvas. Ribera's painting draws on a rich history of oil painting techniques. The build-up of layers allows him to create striking contrasts between light and dark, directing our gaze. But it is not just visual drama that he’s after. Notice the faces of the scholars. The artist carefully builds up the wrinkles and shadows, adding grit and gravitas. Painting at this time was deeply embedded in workshop culture, and the labor was divided up, with different hands often working on different parts of the composition. While this system sometimes gets overlooked when we focus on the "genius" of the artist, it’s vital to remember the intensive collaboration needed to create these monumental works. By understanding the materials, processes, and social context of this artwork, we can appreciate its full complexity.