Favorite of the Farm 

Curator: The scene unfolding in Rudolf Ernst's "Favorite of the Farm," painted in oil, exudes a certain quiet drama, don’t you think? Editor: Drama is putting it mildly. I immediately see a meticulously crafted tableau of presumed domestic tranquility, though with what precise implements did Ernst manufacture the setting itself? The rich, saturated colours evoke, I'll be blunt, a fantasy of Oriental life as viewed by a Western, let's say…enthusiast? Curator: Fair enough, the term 'Orientalist' definitely carries a lot of baggage, but Ernst did spend a significant amount of time travelling and observing life in the Middle East. It's worth noting that pieces like this are part of that historical lens, though certainly filtered through his own perspectives. Personally, I feel such heavy judgement overshadows that he saw in the scene a touching sense of, well, connection. A patriarch, perhaps? Consoling a younger girl? What feelings come up for you, forgetting where the author places them? Editor: Ignoring history is perilous indeed, still. Speaking merely of texture, I’m thinking of the labour in rendering fabrics, patterns and interior ornamentation that defines not only this artwork's creation but its subject matter. The materiality practically screams “opulence”. Each fold in the garments implies labour; even the act of its representation becomes a work of skill and devotion. Curator: True! Thinking of the ornamentation in this piece reminds me—the arabesque patterns and calligraphy around the archway subtly frame the interaction between these two characters. There's an intimacy and the details guide the viewer's eyes towards it. Editor: And what did all the "authenticity" represented cost, I wonder, thinking of Ernst's place and patron. Curator: Art can be so difficult! It inspires and stirs the soul, all while challenging my awareness of the bigger, sometimes unfortunate, world outside its creation. Editor: Exactly. Let's not shy from engaging critically. Appreciate it but do it with your eyes open.