Beim Vorlesen 1900

Franz von Defregger painted “Beim Vorlesen” with oil paints, a popular medium in the 19th century, allowing him to create the textures and details visible here. Defregger’s technique, characterized by visible brushstrokes and a careful layering of color, was intended to capture the realism of everyday life, reminiscent of the material conditions of the time. Look closely, and you’ll see how he built up the forms with layers of thin paint, allowing the light to interact with the surface and create a sense of depth. The intimate scene, depicting a mother reading to her child, might seem like a simple domestic moment, but its painted execution, with its attention to the texture of fabrics and the warmth of the interior, elevates the ordinary to a subject worthy of artistic attention. In this way, Defregger’s work not only portrays a scene but also uses the material properties of oil paint to imbue it with emotional and social significance. The act of painting, the very labor involved, underscores the value of representing everyday life.