Nymphs 1881

Henri-Pierre Picou made this oil on canvas painting, titled Nymphs, sometime in the 19th century. Looking at the painting, you see that Picou deploys the techniques of academic painting to give us a conventional scene of classical figures in a landscape. But oil paint itself is worth considering here. Pigments, typically ground minerals, are mixed into an oil-based medium, usually linseed. The history of painting is inextricably linked to global trade, as artists have sought out materials from around the world. The laborious process of creating these colors and applying them, layer after layer, onto the canvas is time-consuming. But the end result - this vision of leisure and classical beauty - served a very specific purpose. It was intended to appeal to an audience that was, itself, dedicated to its own leisured existence. The very labor of its making almost becomes a status symbol. So, by considering the material and the making, we can better understand the social and cultural role that paintings like this played in 19th century society.