At the Masquerade 

Charles Hermans created “At the Masquerade” using oil paint, a medium traditionally associated with fine art, to capture a scene of social gathering. The way Hermans handles the paint is striking. He uses loose, gestural brushstrokes that give the scene a sense of energy and movement. The thick application of paint creates a rich, textured surface, almost like a tapestry. The materiality of the paint itself becomes part of the story; it's not just about what's depicted, but how it's depicted. The blurred forms and indistinct faces, created with quick strokes of the brush, suggest the anonymity and fleeting interactions of a masquerade. Consider the social context: this painting captures a moment of leisure and extravagance enjoyed by the upper classes. The masquerade itself is a performance of wealth and status. The amount of work involved in creating such a large-scale painting, with its intricate details and vibrant colors, reflects the labor and resources available to the artist and his patrons. Hermans challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft by emphasizing the material qualities of paint and the skilled execution required to create this dynamic scene.