Oxen Plowing 

Rosa Bonheur painted ‘Oxen Plowing’ using oil on canvas, during a time when the Barbizon school and Realism were influential movements in France. Bonheur rejected the dominant academic tradition and instead devoted her career to painting animals. She created an image of rural life but the focus here is less on the farmers than the oxen. Through the intense realism with which she depicts them, the artist draws our attention to their physical power and resilience. Painted during the Second Empire under Napoleon III, there was an idealization of rural life, and the role of working animals was crucial to the nation's economy. Bonheur had to overcome many social barriers as a female artist in the 19th century, but she gained widespread recognition during her lifetime. We might see this painting as a celebration of the natural world and rural life. To gain deeper insights into the social and economic history of French agriculture, we might consult census records, agricultural surveys, and contemporary accounts. The painting offers a view of the past and the ongoing dialogue between art and society.