History Painting 1626

Rembrandt van Rijn created this “History Painting” with oil on canvas. Now, oil paint may seem like a traditional fine art material, but it's worth remembering that each pigment was originally sourced from a specific place and required a great deal of labor. Consider, for instance, the ultramarine blue of the king’s cloak; this would have been derived from lapis lazuli, mined in Afghanistan and shipped to Europe at great expense. And of course, the linen canvas itself was the product of agriculture and weaving. The making of this painting involved a complex division of labor – from the miners and weavers to the artist who skillfully applied these materials. Rembrandt made the scene come alive with his use of light, shadow, and expressive brushwork. In fact, he built up the paint in layers, each interacting with those beneath. Looking at this work, it’s fascinating to consider all the different ways of making that contributed to it. It reminds us that even the most refined work of art is deeply rooted in the material world and the social conditions of its production.