Horses Bitten by Flies 

Editor: This painting, "Horses Bitten by Flies" by Paul-Albert Besnard, shows two horses seemingly agitated under a bright, dappled light. There's a real sense of discomfort being conveyed through their tense postures. What do you see in this piece beyond the immediate scene? Curator: The scene you describe hints at something much larger. Besnard painted this during a period of significant social upheaval in France, anxieties about urbanization and changing agricultural practices were simmering. Don’t you see in the horses’ agitation a metaphor for the disruption of traditional rural life? Their discomfort reflects the wider societal anxieties around industrialization encroaching on agrarian landscapes. Editor: That's an interesting reading. I was so focused on the surface, on the depiction of nature and the horses' immediate distress. I didn't consider how that might be a symbolic representation. Curator: Exactly. And look at the title itself – "Horses Bitten by Flies." The flies, those persistent, irritating insects, could be interpreted as the constant, nagging problems brought about by modernity – the pollution, the noise, the relentless pace of change impacting marginalized communities. Does the impressionistic style not reinforce this sense of unease? Editor: It does now that you mention it. The broken brushstrokes, the almost frenetic energy in the application of paint... it’s not a peaceful landscape; it’s one fraught with tension. So Besnard uses this pastoral scene to make a commentary about larger social and economic shifts. Curator: Precisely! The painting then transcends mere representation, becoming a potent symbol of resistance against forces threatening a traditional way of life. The act of bearing witness and capturing lived experience in art becomes essential to challenging power structures. Editor: I see it so differently now. I thought it was a simple depiction of horses and nature, but it holds a much deeper, socio-political significance. Curator: Indeed! It demonstrates how art can reflect the prevailing tensions and contribute to the collective dialogue surrounding them, providing alternative narratives.