Two Stags in a Clearing in Winter 

Rosa Bonheur painted these two stags in a clearing in winter in France at a time when the country was undergoing great change. Bonheur specialized in painting animals, something seen as outside the norm for women at the time. Her realistic style, which you can see in the muscular definition of the stags and the detail of the snow-covered forest floor, was a welcome change to the romanticized animal paintings of the time. However, beyond the artistry, this painting also challenges social norms. Bonheur was known for her independent spirit and defied expectations by wearing men's clothing in order to visit farms and slaughterhouses for her art. In a way, these stags represent both the wild beauty of nature and the breaking down of social barriers, reflecting Bonheur’s own life and experiences as a female artist in 19th-century France. To learn more, we can look into 19th-century French social history, gender studies, and the changing role of women in the arts.