Portrait of Kusov Aleksey Ivanovich 1809

This is Orest Kiprensky’s “Portrait of Kusov Aleksey Ivanovich,” made with oil on canvas in the early 19th century. Kiprensky wasn’t just applying paint; he was working with a substance that demanded a particular kind of attention, and skill. Think about the processes involved: the careful layering of pigments, the mixing of colors to achieve just the right skin tone, the building up of texture to create a sense of depth. Kiprensky employed techniques refined over centuries. He wasn't just representing Kusov; he was embedding him in a social world that valued the touch of the artist's hand, and the status of both subject and painter. There’s a direct connection to economics in the work too. Kusov was wealthy enough to commission the portrait, and Kiprensky skillful enough to execute it. By focusing on the materiality of the painting, we gain a better understanding of the culture that produced it, and the labor involved. That’s how we can begin to dismantle distinctions between art and craft.