19 episodes

What do you see when you look at a painting? You see the subject and the style of the work but also the materials and technologies used to create it and the traces of everything that has happened to it. Professional paintings conservator Jean Dommermuth considers how all of those factors contribute to what a painting is. You don’t need to know anything about art history to enjoy this podcast, but no matter what, you’ll never look at a painting the same way again. You can find images and related materials at jeandommermuth.com/podcast

What Is a Painting‪?‬ Jean

    • Arts
    • 5.0 • 1 Rating

What do you see when you look at a painting? You see the subject and the style of the work but also the materials and technologies used to create it and the traces of everything that has happened to it. Professional paintings conservator Jean Dommermuth considers how all of those factors contribute to what a painting is. You don’t need to know anything about art history to enjoy this podcast, but no matter what, you’ll never look at a painting the same way again. You can find images and related materials at jeandommermuth.com/podcast

    Episode 1 - A Three Dimensional Object

    Episode 1 - A Three Dimensional Object

    What is the physical structure of a painting, and how does that relate to how a painting looks in person? A look at Rembrandt's Aristotle Looking at a Bust of Homer in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

    • 25 min
    Episode 2 - A Mystery Novel

    Episode 2 - A Mystery Novel

    What clues about a painting's materials and history can you find just by looking? A look at Botticelli's Birth of Venus in the Uffizi Galleries, Florence.

    • 31 min
    Episode 3 - A Surface with Paint on It

    Episode 3 - A Surface with Paint on It

    How have modern painters explored what a painting can be? A look at the work of Frank Stella.

    • 28 min
    Episode 4 - A Vision of Eternity

    Episode 4 - A Vision of Eternity

    How did European painters and patrons before about 1400 understand what paintings were and how did that affect how they were made? A look at Early Italian images of the Madonna and Child.

    • 25 min
    Episode 5 - Memories of the Forest

    Episode 5 - Memories of the Forest

    How does a tree become a support for a painting, and how does the memory of its life in the forest affect that support? A look at Early Italian panels.

    • 24 min
    Episode 6 - Sinew and Stone

    Episode 6 - Sinew and Stone

    Episode 6 - How did painters turn natural materials from animal and mineral sources into the perfect preparation for their panel paintings? A look at Early Italian gesso grounds.

    • 28 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
1 Rating

1 Rating

Tequila-Mokingbird ,

A unique offering

I’m a big visual art and art history podcast fan and this feels completely different to anything else I’ve come across. It’s interesting and insightful, and feels like it’s covering new ground in a new way. I really enjoy it. Please keep the episodes coming.

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