The model 

Ilya Repin made this painting, 'The Model', with oils on canvas. The thick, expressive brushstrokes give a real sense of immediacy, like we're seeing the scene unfold in real time. Looking closely, you can see how Repin has used the texture of the paint to create form. The model's skin is rendered with subtle variations in tone, built up through layers of brushwork. The surrounding foliage is almost abstract, with dabs of green and white suggesting a lush, overgrown garden. The loose, almost unfinished quality of the painting is interesting. It shows us the artist's process, and the labor involved in building up an image from scratch. Repin was working in a time of great social change in Russia, and his art often engaged with questions of class and labor. This painting, while seemingly a simple portrait, is infused with a similar sensibility. Ultimately, the material and the making are key to understanding this work. It challenges us to see the beauty and the value in the everyday, and to appreciate the skill and effort that goes into creating even the most seemingly effortless work of art.