Les Deux Foscari 1855

Editor: This painting, "Les Deux Foscari" by Eugène Delacroix, painted in 1855, feels heavy with its use of oil on canvas. I’m immediately struck by the scene’s somber and dramatic mood. What details stand out to you? Curator: I'm interested in how Delacroix uses material to construct this dramatic scene, literally. The layering of the oil paint – you see how he builds up the forms? Consider the raw pigments available at that time and how their materiality contributes to the overall "earthy" effect, reinforcing its historical themes. Also consider Romanticism in the context of the rise of industrial production at the time – how did this affect the choice of subjects and modes of artistic production? Editor: I hadn’t thought about the connection between the painting’s heavy atmosphere and the materiality of the paints themselves. What about the way the figures are presented – is that significant materially, too? Curator: Absolutely. Notice the costuming, and the staging of the characters; each figure has been meticulously produced with respect to their role in a power dynamic within a particular moment in history. Note, too, the "underpainting", used to structure the piece’s visuality. Editor: That's a really good point about considering the materials of each piece alongside its artistic period, as it reveals much about what was available or prioritized at the time. Curator: Precisely! This kind of focus invites a broader view. Examining the raw materials available to Delacroix or even simply focusing on their application techniques, and juxtaposing this analysis with broader consumption/labor attitudes from 1855 can open rich areas of enquiry and cultural understanding.