Jan van Eyck

Jan van Eyck's style is all about hyperrealism achieved through oil paint. Imagine looking at his paintings and feeling like you could reach out and touch the velvet folds of a robe or feel the gleam of polished metal.

Key characteristics:

• Astonishing Detail: Meticulous rendering of textures, light, and surfaces.
• Oil Painting Mastery: He didn't invent it, but he perfected the use of oil paint for layering, glazing, and achieving luminous colors.
• Realism over Idealism: He depicted subjects as they truly appeared, wrinkles and all.
• Symbolism: Everyday objects often held deeper religious or symbolic meanings.
• Naturalistic Light and Shadow: Creating a sense of depth and volume.

Themes:

• Religious scenes (Annunciations, Madonnas) with rich symbolism.
• Portraits of wealthy patrons, revealing their personalities and status.

Tie his name to his style: Think of Van Eyck as "Eye-conic," a master of visual accuracy so stunning it became a symbol of Northern Renaissance art.