The White Knot 

Kimon Loghi created "The White Knot" using oil paint on canvas, a process with a long and loaded history. Loghi would have manipulated the oil paint to capture the texture of skin and fabric, building up layers to give a sense of depth and volume. The smooth consistency of the paint allowed him to blend colours and create soft transitions, especially in the girl's face. The brushstrokes are visible, adding a tactile quality to the surface. Oil painting was closely tied to the rise of capitalism. The production of pigments and the canvas relied on global trade networks and industrial processes. Portraits like this were often commissioned by wealthy patrons, and the very act of painting became a way of asserting status. Considering the materials, the making process, and social context, we begin to understand the historical weight embedded in the artwork.