The Call of the Stag c. 1890s

Rosa Bonheur made this drawing, "The Call of the Stag," with pastels on paper. Pastels, made from ground pigments, give the image a soft, almost dreamlike quality. Bonheur's choice of pastels is significant. It’s a material far removed from the grand, academic painting of her time. Traditionally, pastels were often used for preparatory sketches, not for finished works worthy of exhibition. Bonheur elevates this medium, demonstrating her mastery and challenging the hierarchy of artistic materials. Look at the texture she creates: the feathery clouds, the rough grasses, and the stag's velvety coat. The dry, powdery nature of pastels allows for subtle gradations of tone and color, capturing the atmosphere of the scene. Bonheur’s embrace of this humble material reflects a shift towards a more direct, and personal form of expression. By emphasizing the material and the artist's hand, we can appreciate the skill and artistry involved in creating this evocative scene, challenging traditional distinctions between craft and fine art.