A man smoking in an interior 

Adriaen van Ostade made this painting of a man smoking, likely in the Netherlands, using oil on panel. The textures here are so very well done, particularly when you consider the scale. Notice how much character is suggested with the man's clothes and features. Van Ostade was a master of subtle gradations of paint, layering thin glazes to achieve the effect. His skillful handling of the material allows him to mimic the texture of fabric, skin, and even smoke with remarkable accuracy. It’s interesting to think about this painting in relation to labor and consumption. Tobacco was a relatively new commodity at the time, and paintings like this one helped to normalize its consumption. But there's also a lot of work involved in the production of art objects like this. It took time to prepare the panel, mix the paints, and apply them with such precision. Paying attention to materials and the making process is essential to understanding the social and cultural significance of this artwork.