Nu au collier 

Henri Lebasque painted this nude with a necklace using oil on canvas. Oil paint has a unique luminosity, which comes from the way light refracts within its layers. Look at the way Lebasque has thinned and thickened the paint, creating a sense of depth and movement. He may have chosen this medium because of its versatility, allowing for both delicate details and broad strokes. The way the artist manipulates the material becomes part of the meaning, expressing the subject’s sensuality. The pearls, for instance, are rendered with creamy, iridescent brushstrokes, each bead almost tangible. But consider, too, the social context of oil painting and jewelry making. Both rely on systems of labor and consumption. The pigments in the paint may have been sourced from distant lands, while the pearls suggest wealth and status. This contrast invites us to consider the relationship between art, beauty, and the often-unseen processes that bring them into being.