Portrait of Mrs. E. Bethune 

This is Portrait of Mrs. E. Bethune, painted by Henry Raeburn, likely in the late 18th or early 19th century. Raeburn worked with oil on canvas, a well-established medium by this point, and used it to great effect here. Look at the paint handling, the quick, loose brushwork, especially in the background and Mrs. Bethune's hair, which conveys a sense of spontaneity. Although the painting may appear effortless, remember that achieving this effect requires serious skill and years of practice. The materiality and the making of this portrait are central to its meaning. The subject’s wealth is subtly emphasized through the artistic labour and expensive pigments required to produce such a large-scale portrait. Raeburn’s art stands at the intersection of craft, design, and materiality, challenging any rigid distinction between high art and skilled handwork. The painting’s aesthetic is intrinsically linked to the social and economic conditions of its time.