Gordon Setter with Mallard Duck 

Curator: Carl Reichert’s oil painting, "Gordon Setter with Mallard Duck," really captures a moment in sporting life. Editor: Oh, he looks so proud, doesn't he? There’s almost a melancholy to his eyes despite the duck in his mouth. What strikes me is the sheen on the dog’s coat; you can almost feel the texture. Curator: It’s the details that draw me in as well, like how the artist used thin glazes of oil-paint, to achieve the fur's textures. Consider also how labor and class factor in its history of production: oil paint in itself was industrialized; while images of trained animals such as hunting dogs served the social elites. Editor: So, is this a portrait about societal status? I just saw a good dog doing his job, you know? It feels very immediate; like I could reach out and pet him! Curator: Well, "genre paintings" like these offer idealized representations of domesticity. We might even read this as commentary about ownership – both of the animal and the land. I am reminded that hunting as a sport often entails controlling access to natural resources and game. Editor: I hadn't considered those aspects. But I can still appreciate its beauty, even if there's a darker side to the story being told. I think Reichert’s technical ability can also speak volumes. How difficult must that subject matter have been?! The feathers look very convincing, don't you think? Curator: Absolutely! The dog seems stoic. And in a way, you may look at this work as capturing the social dynamics through visual means, it provides much food for thought when thinking about labor and land ownership. Editor: In the end, whether it's about canine accomplishment or social standing, Reichert clearly had the sensitivity of an artist to capture emotion, light, and the textures surrounding this canine friend! I almost want to know what happens to that duck after all this is over!