Nude With Red Drape 

Franz von Defregger, who lived between 1835 and 1921, created this nude study with oil paints. The smooth surface of the canvas contrasts sharply with the matte texture of the paint. See how the red drape is made up of many layers of thin paint, almost like a glaze? Defregger likely employed a wet-on-wet technique, blending the colors directly on the canvas to achieve the soft transitions of tone in the skin. This approach was made possible by the availability of ready-mixed paints in tubes, a relatively new development in the 19th century. While at first glance, this may look like a traditional academic painting, we can consider that the artist has engaged with both historical fine art techniques, like glazing and blending, and modern industrial production, by using pre-mixed paints. Paying attention to these materials and making processes, we can understand how Defregger fits within both a traditional painting lineage, and the rise of the industrial revolution.