American Brew 

Lucia Heffernan painted ‘American Brew’ with oils on canvas. The image plays on the familiar trope of animals dressed in human clothing to poke fun at our assumptions about national identity. Made in the United States during the 21st century, it makes a tongue-in-cheek reference to the concept of 'Americanness' by depicting a bulldog wearing a shirt that says 'Americano'. The breed is known for its loyalty and protective instincts. But the term is also a coffee drink. The humor in the image relies on assumptions we might make about the sitter. Is the dog acting out a human role or vice versa? The artist challenges us to think about who gets to be an ‘Americano’. Through such visual games, we can understand the power of art to challenge existing social norms. As historians, we look at popular culture, advertising, and political discourse to better understand how our institutions create, reflect, and sometimes distort the truth.