The Temptation of St. Anthony (detail) 1516

This nightmarish scene was painted in the early 16th century by Matthias Grünewald, using oil on wood. The painting's surface is alive with the torment of St. Anthony, beset by grotesque figures. The artist conjured up demons with intense labor, manipulating the oil paint to achieve a high level of detail and a shocking naturalism. Look closely, and you can see how the viscosity of oil allows for the depiction of minute textures, like feathers and fur. Grünewald employs traditional methods in the service of an unconventional aesthetic. The labor-intensive techniques of oil painting are used here to evoke a world turned upside down. It is the very artistry of Grünewald's approach that lends this depiction of hell its persuasive power. In the end, the painting shows us the potential for craft not only to represent reality, but to transform it.