What is oil paint? Explore with Jan van Eyck's Annunciation
Jan van Eyck, Annunciation, c. 1434/36 CE, oil on panel. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Photo: © Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank.
In our latest video, you can explore the beauty of Flemish painter Jan van Eyck's oil painting of the Annunciation, the moment when the archangel Gabriel tells the Virgin Mary she will bear Jesus Christ. Jan’s mastery of light, color, and texture brings this divine moment to life. How did he do it? With oil paint!
In the video, you’ll learn about oil paint, a relatively new medium in 15th-century Europe, that allowed for remarkable realism and subtle effects impossible with earlier egg-based tempera. Oil’s slow drying time enabled Jan to build up transparent layers and intricate details, creating glowing surfaces and lifelike textures. Through this technical and artistic innovation, he transformed a sacred story into a vivid, tangible vision.
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