Jacob receiving Joseph's bloody coat 1845

William Bouguereau painted *Jacob receiving Joseph's bloody coat* using oil paints, a common medium for academic painting. The smooth, almost porcelain finish he achieved was no accident. It resulted from meticulous layering and blending, a technique that required immense skill and patience. Bouguereau’s approach stands in stark contrast to the expressive brushwork of the Impressionists. He embraced a highly polished, illusionistic style to create a sense of realism and emotional drama, evident in the grief-stricken figures surrounding Jacob. The painting reflects a deep engagement with traditional artistic practices, where technical mastery and historical narratives were highly valued. But in focusing on the material reality of Bouguereau’s painting – the precise blending, the smooth surface, and the time-consuming labor involved – we can see the work as a product of its social and economic context. It was designed for an art market that prized virtuosity and traditional subject matter, reflecting the values of the French Academy and its wealthy patrons. Seeing this helps us to expand our understanding of art history beyond simply "high" art.