Japanese Chin 

Carl Reichert painted this portrait of a Japanese Chin sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. Reichert was known for his detailed animal paintings, often portraying pets of the European upper class. This painting serves as a window into the social norms of the era, where owning exotic pets became a status symbol, reflecting wealth and a connection to global trade and colonial networks. The Japanese Chin, originating from the Far East, would have been a rare and expensive breed. The dog's adornment with a blue bow and the close attention paid to its features suggest a pampered lifestyle, a far cry from the harsh realities faced by many people at the time. To understand this work fully, historians consult social registers, pet ownership records, and studies of class and consumer culture. This helps us to better understand the artwork's meaning as it pertains to the social and institutional context in which it was made.