Poppies 1891

Henri Fantin-Latour captured these “Poppies” using oil paint, a medium with a rich history tied to the rise of industrial capitalism. The smooth, almost porcelain finish that we see here is achieved through a meticulous layering of pigment, a process demanding both skill and time. Consider, for instance, the cultivation of the flax plant to produce the oil, the grinding of pigments by hand, and the expertise required to blend the colors to produce the right tonal values. All this, before a single brushstroke was even applied to the canvas. In Fantin-Latour's era, the ability to master such techniques marked a clear social distinction, setting artists apart from the burgeoning industrial workforce. This painting, therefore, stands as an emblem of a slower, more deliberate pace of life, a world of handmade values amidst the clamor of mass production. By appreciating the labor invested in its creation, we recognize that painting, like any other form of making, is deeply embedded in its time.