Midday 

Henry William Banks Davis made 'Midday' with oil on canvas, a traditional medium for painting. Davis's painting is more than just a pastoral scene; it's a window into 19th-century agricultural life. Look at the application of paint. Davis uses loose brushwork to convey the texture of the cattle's hides, the rough grasses, and the atmospheric quality of the light. This wasn't just about replicating what he saw. The way the paint is applied makes the artwork, its materiality, an expression of the scene itself. The tools and techniques would have been those of a well-trained academic painter, but the subject matter reflects a broader societal interest in rural life and agricultural production. Consider that behind this image lies an entire system of labor, land use, and commodity production. Davis elevates the everyday to the level of fine art, challenging the hierarchy between genres. Ultimately, recognizing the materials, techniques, and social context helps us to better understand the full meaning of the work.