Lil Rosie 

Julie Bell’s Lil Rosie presents us with the portrait of a calf rendered in oil, inviting consideration of our relationship to animals and nature. Bell, working in a field traditionally dominated by male artists, brings a distinctly feminine gaze to fantasy and animal portraiture. Rather than depicting Lil Rosie in a pastoral scene, Bell places her in a lush, Eden-like garden. Bathed in warm light, the calf appears serene and almost ethereal, challenging the typical representation of animals as mere commodities or sources of labor. Bell asks us to reconsider our hierarchical relationships. As she once said about her work: "I want to convey the strength and beauty of the natural world.” Through this lens, Lil Rosie becomes more than just a calf; she is an emblem of innocence, beauty, and the intrinsic value of life.