The Inmates of my House 1915

Thérèse Schwartze made this group portrait, "The Inmates of my House," using oil paints on canvas. At first glance, it is a conventional family portrait, but the rough brushstrokes suggest a modern sensibility. Schwartze skillfully used the materiality of oil paints to create a sense of depth and texture. The loose application of paint gives the artwork a feeling of immediacy, as if the viewer is catching a glimpse of a private moment. Each figure is rendered with careful attention to detail, capturing their individual personalities and relationships to one another. It seems like a quick snapshot of a modern family, yet clearly they have posed for the painter. But look closer, and you will notice how the material aspects and the social context of production are intertwined. While the figures appear well-to-do, one cannot ignore the labor involved in creating the artwork, from the preparation of the canvas to the mixing of pigments. The artwork prompts us to consider the artist's role as a skilled craftsperson, as well as her position within a complex network of social and economic relations, and how she has challenged distinctions between fine art and craft.