Royalty at Home 1885

Curator: Here we have Rosa Bonheur’s “Royalty at Home,” dating to 1885, currently residing here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Bonheur was a remarkable artist, flouting convention both in her subject matter and her lifestyle. Editor: Wow, it’s like a dream of power nap time in the savanna! The watercolor is so light, it almost feels humid. Those two lions just look… beatific, frankly. Not a worry in the world, stretched out on the rocks. Curator: Well, Bonheur’s fascination with animals wasn't simply aesthetic; it was deeply rooted in understanding the natural order and, arguably, disrupting societal expectations of women in the art world. Remember she had to get police permission to wear trousers so she could visit farms and slaughterhouses to properly study anatomy. Editor: Ha! Trousers as a revolutionary statement. I love it. So, seeing them at “home," ruling, yes, but also totally at ease. Is that the “Royalty” part? Curator: I think that's spot on. Consider this, while she painted for nobility, the painting subverts our usual perception. The lions' regality isn’t in a palace, but their natural domain, their true “home”. Editor: True. I guess it challenges the colonial gaze or something—like, “we don't need your crowns and castles.” And they look good doing it! What strikes me is that she captured their quiet strength, and maybe even… intimacy? They’re relaxed around each other, sharing space. Curator: Precisely, it invites a deeper consideration of animal sentience and social structures. It can also intersect with current conversations on environmentalism. Their home, after all, is our planet. Editor: So, it's way more than just a pretty picture of some chill cats! Makes me wonder, are they judging my Monday morning stress levels? Probably. Curator: I appreciate how Bonheur continues to ignite conversations. She compels us to reflect on the many ways our assumptions impact everything from art history to our interconnected world. Editor: Well, next time I need to relax, I know what I'm doing: envisioning myself as queen of the beasts! Thanks, Rosa, for the chillspiration.