Portrait Of A Mastiff-Labrador In A Landscape 

Editor: So, this is "Portrait Of A Mastiff-Labrador In A Landscape," an oil painting by Rosa Bonheur. The animal fills most of the frame, and it looks very solid, real, almost sculptural. What are your first impressions? Curator: My eye immediately goes to the depiction of labor embedded within the materials and context of the painting. Bonheur was known for her animal paintings, and that in itself reflects a shifting relationship to labor – depicting animals less as beasts of burden and more as companions. Notice the deliberate brushstrokes used to define the dog's musculature versus the softer application in the background landscape; it reflects the artist's keen awareness of the subject and her mastery over the material. Editor: That's interesting. I hadn’t really thought about the choice of subject in that way. How does the setting fit in? Curator: The setting—the cultivated, tilled land—suggests a control over nature, and speaks to a burgeoning middle class with the leisure to keep such animals not as workers but as symbols of status. Think about who would commission a portrait of their pet, and what materials were used to make it. Did the price of the materials contribute to its exclusivity? Editor: Right, that makes sense. The materials used, the artist’s skill, the subject itself…it all points to a very specific societal relationship with animals and land. Curator: Exactly! We aren't just seeing a dog in a field, but also a material document that tells of changing economic and social structures in its time. Considering all the materials that are required for creating this single portrait--the paint, canvas, brushes and studio space--are reflective of a very particular economy. Editor: It’s amazing how much a seemingly simple animal portrait can reveal! I'll definitely look at art differently from now on, focusing on the "how" and "why" it was made. Curator: I’m so glad! Art really is about process, material, and societal context. These layers give artwork much more substance, telling tales of labor and ingenuity.