The Flight into Egypt 

This page from a Book of Hours was made by the Limbourg brothers in the early 15th century, using pigments painstakingly ground from minerals and plants, and applied to vellum. Look closely, and you can see the ultramarine blue, made from the precious stone lapis lazuli, signifying the importance of the Virgin Mary. The vibrant colors and intricate details are the product of immense labor and skill, reflecting the value placed on handmade objects in the pre-industrial era. Note how the lower part of the image depicts what appear to be farmers working the land, contrasting with the aristocratic refinement of the holy family above. The image has the quality of a tapestry woven with paint. The texture of the vellum, combined with the delicate brushstrokes, creates a unique visual experience, inviting us to contemplate the relationship between materials, making, and meaning. The manuscript page reminds us that even ostensibly "fine" art is always rooted in craft traditions, and reflective of social hierarchies.