Painter in a Red Shirt 

Iwo Zaniewski painted this work, Painter in a Red Shirt, using traditional methods and materials. Its flat perspective and careful application of paint emphasize the materiality of the painting, turning our attention to the artist’s labour and the production process. The artist uses tiny strokes to create texture, in a way that appears almost woven. This evokes handcraft aesthetics, contrasting with the scene depicted, which shows all the trappings of wealth and luxury. The painting shows the artist at work, and is in a way a celebration of work. It reminds us that no matter how rarefied and elite the art world may seem, it all boils down to the application of skill and effort. This piece challenges the conventional separation of 'high' art from 'craft' by foregrounding process and labor within a scene of apparent leisure and luxury.