Noch nicht hasenrein 

Carl Reichert painted "Noch nicht hasenrein" with oil on canvas, and the shine of that medium allows us a peek into a very specific social world. Note how Reichert built up the composition: from the gleam of the leather chair to the fur of the dead rabbit hanging above, and even the droll expressions of the dogs. It's all exquisitely rendered. What makes it more than just a display of technical skill, though, is the way these elements cohere. The artist painstakingly details the textures and material qualities of each element within the artwork. This isn't just a painting of dogs; it's a painting *about* the trappings of leisure and the culture of hunting. Reichert clearly knew how to handle a brush, but also, how to handle the semiotics of class. The result is a painting that speaks volumes about its time, and maybe ours too.