King Lear c. 1788

Benjamin West created this painting of King Lear, using oil paint on canvas. While these might seem like traditional materials, the way West handles them tells us a lot about the transition to industrial manufacturing. Look at the broad areas of color, the relatively smooth surface, and the absence of visible brushstrokes. West’s painting relies on the standardization of materials and techniques. The canvas is prepared uniformly, the pigments are ground to a consistent fineness, and the application is efficient. This wasn't a medieval painting painstakingly built up in layers, but one produced with the speed of modern life. The subject matter, too, reflects the social context. Shakespeare's King Lear is a story of power, madness, and ultimately, social breakdown. In West's hands, the tragedy becomes a spectacle, painted with a smooth efficiency mirroring the dawn of the industrial age. It invites us to consider how artistic practices were adapting to, and reflecting upon, the changing world.