Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899)
The exhibition
In Bordeaux, the animal misfortunes painted by Rosa Bonheur.
Rosa Bonheur had a strong interest in pastoral practices and breed specificities. Examples abound, but it is surely his Labourage Nivernais, shown at the entrance of the Bordeaux exhibition in a section dedicated to agricultural work, that is the best demonstration. This painting, commissioned in 1848 by the Second Republic for the following year, describes the first ploughing carried out in the early autumn, which opens the earth to aerate it during the winter. Two teams of oxen shoot plows there. If we recognize one Charolais, two other species of cows that are painted there whose morvandelle have now disappeared. Thus, the work, of a rare naturalism, serves as a testimony of the diversity of life in its regional aspect as it could exist almost two hundred years ago. In the foreground, the mute ox suffers its fate with the resignation of the tamed breeds. Nevertheless, his bewildered look is intended for us, and produces a sense of unease about the exploitation of the animal by man.
Excerpt from the article by Emma Noyant published in the N°102 de la revue Art Absolument. Published the 13th of July 2022
Rosa Bonheur had a strong interest in pastoral practices and breed specificities. Examples abound, but it is surely his Labourage Nivernais, shown at the entrance of the Bordeaux exhibition in a section dedicated to agricultural work, that is the best demonstration. This painting, commissioned in 1848 by the Second Republic for the following year, describes the first ploughing carried out in the early autumn, which opens the earth to aerate it during the winter. Two teams of oxen shoot plows there. If we recognize one Charolais, two other species of cows that are painted there whose morvandelle have now disappeared. Thus, the work, of a rare naturalism, serves as a testimony of the diversity of life in its regional aspect as it could exist almost two hundred years ago. In the foreground, the mute ox suffers its fate with the resignation of the tamed breeds. Nevertheless, his bewildered look is intended for us, and produces a sense of unease about the exploitation of the animal by man.
Excerpt from the article by Emma Noyant published in the N°102 de la revue Art Absolument. Published the 13th of July 2022
When
18/05/2022 - 18/09/2022