Boy and Rabbit 1814

"Boy and Rabbit" is an oil on canvas painting by Henry Raeburn, located here at the Royal Academy of Arts. Raeburn was a leading portrait painter in Scotland during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Consider the conventions of portraiture in Raeburn's time. Wealthy families often commissioned portraits to display their status and lineage, yet here we see a more intimate scene. There's a certain informality and tenderness in the boy's pose and expression. He isn't presented as a symbol of power, but rather as a child in a moment of quiet affection. The rabbit becomes more than a pet; it's a symbol of innocence and vulnerability, mirroring the boy's own youth. The painting invites us to consider the emotional life of children and challenges traditional notions of masculinity. How does Raeburn’s work reflect, or perhaps push against, the societal expectations of boyhood during this period?