Girl by a Fountain 1896

Henri Martin made this painting of a ‘Girl by a Fountain’ with oil on canvas. Martin was part of the Post-Impressionist movement, and his work is characterized by the divisionist painting technique. The canvas is covered with countless little touches of paint. From afar, they give off a vibrant, shimmering effect, but up close, the artist's labor becomes very clear. Looking closely, we can appreciate the sheer amount of work that must have gone into producing the work. Although the subject matter – a tranquil garden scene – could hardly be more leisurely, there is a definite tension here between this apparent calm, and the industrialization of labor, that was transforming France at the time this painting was made. Martin’s painting gives us a glimpse into a pivotal moment in our understanding of the relationship between labor, art, and leisure. It challenges traditional notions of what constitutes both art and work, inviting us to appreciate the significance of both in our lives.