Martin, a Terrier 

Rosa Bonheur created this portrait of ‘Martin, a Terrier’ in 1879, using oil on canvas. Bonheur was one of the most celebrated animal painters of the 19th century, and this work gives us a clue as to why. Consider the way Bonheur has handled her materials. Oil paint allowed her to mimic the dog's fur with short, precise strokes. The detail brings out the individual hairs, building up the overall texture. The wet-on-wet technique, or alla prima, gave her the capacity to capture the animal's likeness with immediacy. Bonheur's sensitivity to her subject, and her skillful rendering, elevate this work beyond a mere pet portrait. It shows us the value that can be found in careful observation and skillful execution, and in the relationships between humans and animals. The painting, as a result, makes us think about the labor of looking, and how that transforms into the labor of painting.