Guarding the Chieftain 

Jean-Joseph-Benjamin Constant created "Guarding the Chieftain" with oil paints, a medium that allowed him to capture a vision of North Africa, a region then being intensely colonized. The painting's surfaces are carefully worked, with a tangible depth achieved through layered glazes of color. Observe the texture of the rug, the metalwork on the walls and door, the sheen of the chieftain's garment, and the guard's weaponry. Constant was deeply engaged with the material qualities of these items, and renders them with striking illusionism. Consider how the labor and skill involved in crafting these objects mirrors the social hierarchy depicted, with the chieftain at ease and the guard standing sentinel. Constant likely never engaged in the making of textiles or metalwork firsthand, yet he clearly appreciated the inherent value of skilled handcraft, and wove this value into the scene. Ultimately, "Guarding the Chieftain" invites us to think about how artistic vision and material culture intersect, and to appreciate the value and labor embedded in both fine art and craft.