A Game Of Chess 

James Hamilton likely painted this scene with oil paints, and brushes, on a woven canvas stretched over a wood frame. The work has a wonderful material presence, from the texture of the canvas to the artist's skillful use of the oil medium. Note the contrast of the subjects’ fine clothing with the austere interior. The work's material qualities—the texture, color, and form—suggest the labor, the social conventions, and the consumption patterns that define the period of its making. Each garment worn by the subjects, and all the objects present in the room, represent hours of labour from production to its final display. Paying attention to the materials, the making process, and the socio-historical context of "A Game of Chess", encourages us to look beyond the surface and question the roles of class, labor, and consumption within the painting.