He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not 1896

John William Godward made "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" with oil on canvas. At first glance, it might appear to be a straightforward genre painting, but it's worth considering what the choice of materials tells us. The smooth, almost photographic finish was achieved by layering thin glazes of paint, a technique refined over centuries. Oil paint itself, though by this time industrially produced, was of course originally derived from natural materials, and required a good deal of labor to prepare. The effect of this highly refined technique is to create a sense of classical beauty, an enduring ideal. But this very labor-intensive process raises questions about the relationship between art, skill, and value. What does it mean to painstakingly recreate an idealized vision of the past, especially during a period of rapid industrialization? Godward seems to be consciously turning away from the modern world and toward a more romanticized, perhaps more easily consumable, vision of beauty. Ultimately, "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" reminds us that even the most seemingly straightforward works of art are the product of specific materials, processes, and cultural contexts.