The Lesson 1901

Ludwig Deutsch made "The Lesson" in 1901 with oil paint on canvas, and right away, you can see how he was interested in light, how it falls and pools. He's so precise with the details, almost photographic, and it makes you wonder about the process. Did he labor over every brushstroke? Or did he find a way to let the paint itself guide him? Look at the wall behind the figures, where the plaster is peeling away. You can almost feel the texture of the crumbling surface, the roughness and irregularity. And then there's the way he captures the light filtering through the window, the way it illuminates the pages of the book. It's like he's not just painting a scene, but also a feeling. This reminds me a little of Alma Tadema, also interested in historical scenes with a strong sense of detail, but it also feels unique. Maybe that is why art is never a copy of an idea but always a take.