Shepherd Dog n.d.

George Morland created this black chalk drawing of a Shepherd Dog in England in the late 18th century. Drawings like this were often made in preparation for a painting, but here we see the artist celebrating the animal for its own sake. English painting of this period moved away from portraits of the aristocracy and towards rural life. This was a time when a new middle class was emerging, whose members wanted to imagine themselves as country gentry. Images of animals, farms, and unspoiled landscapes became extremely popular. But of course, this was also a time of enclosure, where common land was being taken over by wealthy landowners, so this art could also be seen as a lament for a disappearing way of life. As art historians, we need to consider the complex economic conditions that allowed this art to flourish. We need to ask if it supported or challenged the status quo. By studying estate records, newspapers, and political pamphlets from the time, we can better understand the artwork's social context.