Nativity (Polyptych of the Virgin, the wing) 1445

This panel of the ‘Nativity’, was painted by Dirk Bouts, likely in the 1470s, using oil paint. The oil allows for subtle gradations of color. Look at the sky, subtly shifting from light blue to almost gray as it approaches the horizon. The painting is so smooth, that the process and amount of work that went into it, is not immediately obvious. But we should consider the cost and availability of pigments during the period, and the skilled labor required to grind them, mix them with oil, and then apply them in such a refined way. The archway in which the scene is set, is exquisitely detailed, and would have required just as much time and consideration as the figures themselves. Bouts’ panel demonstrates that a painting is not just an image but also a labor-intensive, costly creation. Recognizing the skill of the artist, and his workshop, broadens our understanding of the picture, taking into account the time, materials, and processes involved in its making.