The Girl With an Orange 

Ligia Macovei painted 'The Girl With an Orange' with oils on canvas, using distinct, visible brushstrokes. The medium itself, oil paint, allows for rich color and texture. Notice how Macovei’s technique gives form to the image. The visible brushwork lends an expressive, almost raw quality to the painting, eschewing the smooth finish often associated with traditional portraiture. The way the paint is applied—thick in some areas, thinner in others—creates a tactile surface that invites close looking. This focus on materiality, the very stuff of the painting, ties the work to broader issues of labor and production. The artist's hand is evident, each stroke a record of her physical engagement with the canvas. Macovei’s choice of materials and process isn't just about aesthetics; it's a statement about the value of the artist's labor, reminding us that art is made, not simply conceived. By emphasizing process, Macovei challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft, elevating the act of making to a central position in our understanding of the artwork.