Self portrait 1800

John Hoppner’s self-portrait is an oil painting on canvas, a common medium for portraying wealthy elites in the 18th and 19th centuries. But look closer, and you see the subtle details that reflect the labor involved in producing the artwork. The pigments themselves would have been meticulously ground and mixed, often by studio assistants. The canvas was likely stretched and primed by hand, a skilled process ensuring a smooth surface for painting. And the layering of paint, creating depth and texture, speaks to hours of dedicated work. There is also the implicit social context of oil painting at the time: the cultivation of artistic skill through rigorous training, and the economic system that allowed artists to make a living through portraiture. This was all made possible by the labour and exploitation of others. Hoppner’s self-portrait is a reminder of all this.