Hunting Ducks 

Paul Kane painted "Hunting Ducks" using oil paints, a traditional medium associated with European fine art. The smooth, almost glazed surface reflects the careful layering of pigments, a technique common in academic painting of the 19th century. But consider what is depicted here, and how. Kane was interested in documenting Indigenous life in Canada, but through a very particular lens. Notice the contrast between the softness of the landscape and the implied violence of the hunt. The very act of painting, with its history of patronage and power, subtly transforms the scene. The labor involved is not just the hunter’s, but also Kane’s own, as he translates the experience into a commodity for the art market. It's a potent reminder that even seemingly straightforward depictions are shaped by materials, process, and a complex web of social relations.