Making it Real
In the 15th Century, paintings in the Netherlands became much more realistic. For the first time, it was common for artists to use settings and people drawn from real life. The artists paid attention to the tiny details, especially the effects of light on things, using brushwork and delicate shading to create an almost photographic finish.
Egg and Oil
A realistic way of painting was made possible by the kind of paint these artists used. 15th Century artists had to make their own paints, grinding stones, plants, and other things to use as pigments. They couldn’t buy ready-made paint. In Italy at this time, painters mainly worked in egg tempera – a mixture of colored pigments and egg. But in the Netherlands, artists began mixing pigments with oil. Unlike egg, oil takes a long time to dry, so consequently, the artists who used oil paint were able to work more slowly and put more details into their work.
Let There Be Light
Light was another important feature in the new oil paintings. They showed the effects of light very accurately, with the source of light coming from a window, for example. When the background is dark, it is the light falling across the face that brings one famous painting to life. Man In a Turban, by Jan van Eyck, is a prime example of the light feature. Oil paint was good for representing these effects because it is a translucent medium, which means light can pass through it, unlike egg tempera, which is opaque.
*Note: Man In a Turban (1433) by Jan van Eyck, is probably a self-portrait. The artist signed his work with some lettering on the frame. It reads: ‘As I/Eyck can; Jan van Eyck made me, 21 October, 1433’
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