Fotoreproductie van een schilderij van Rosa Bonheur van schapen c. 1890 - 1910

This is a photographic reproduction of a painting of sheep by Rosa Bonheur. Bonheur, who lived in France in the 19th century, was known for her remarkable ability to capture animals with an intense realism. Consider how unusual it was during this time for a woman to achieve fame as an animal painter. Bonheur's life and work challenged conventional gender roles, requiring her to navigate a male-dominated art world. She often wore men's clothing to visit farms and slaughterhouses, asserting her presence in spaces typically reserved for men. Paintings of animals at this time often served as allegories, or moralizing tales. Bonheur’s paintings of animals served neither purpose, nor did they seek to aggrandize the relationship between humans and animals. Instead, she painted them as they were. Her approach reflects a deep, empathetic connection with the natural world. Though an anonymous artist created this photographic reproduction, it extends Bonheur's legacy, inviting us to contemplate the boundaries of gender and artistic expression.