Peter Piper 

Scott Gustafson painted "Peter Piper" in the latter half of the 20th century. This playful painting taps into the rich tradition of anthropomorphic art that gained popularity in the 19th century. The artist cleverly uses animal figures to explore and comment on human society. Here, we see Peter Piper not as a simple nursery rhyme character, but as a pug, dressed in overalls and a straw hat, embodying the hardworking farmer. This reflects a nostalgic view of agrarian life, possibly commenting on the shift towards urbanization and industrialization prevalent in the Western world at the time. The ant accountant meticulously records the harvest, a humorous nod to the increasing bureaucracy and commercialization of agriculture. To fully understand Gustafson's work, it's essential to consider the rise of consumer culture and the role of art in both celebrating and critiquing these changes. Catalogues of popular culture imagery can tell us more about the place of an artwork like this in the wider world of commercial imagery. Ultimately, "Peter Piper" offers us a glimpse into a society grappling with its relationship to nature, labor, and the growing influence of commerce.