A Hare and a Leg of Lamb 1742

Jean-Baptiste Oudry painted this still life with oil on canvas; a traditional medium known for its versatility and capacity to capture fine detail. Look closely at the painting: Oudry masterfully creates a sense of texture and weight, giving the impression of the hanging hare and lamb being in the same plane as the viewer. He achieves this illusion through the use of meticulous brushwork. Notice the careful rendering of light and shadow, which enhances the three-dimensionality of the subject. Oudry had to mix his colors with precision to get the colors just right; observe how the pinks and reds of the meat contrast with the subtle browns and grays of the hare’s fur. Still life paintings such as this one were quite popular among the bourgeoisie, which Oudry understood well, having painted many similar ones. Works like this may seem simple, but remind us that all art is tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. The tools and techniques employed by Oudry, like the food shown in the painting, are products of their time, reflecting the values and tastes of 18th-century society.