Meredith ‘Bunny’ Howland Pyne with his Dog, Hector 1906

James Jebusa Shannon painted this portrait of Meredith ‘Bunny’ Howland Pyne with his dog, Hector, with oils. I wonder how the artist approached this, the quick brushstrokes of browns and creams capturing the sheen of the dog’s coat and the boy's velvet suit. Did he start with the eyes, trying to capture their spirits? Maybe he built up the forms gradually, like layers of memory, each stroke revealing something new. The background is a blur of reds and browns, a theatrical backdrop that hints at grandeur, but it’s the relationship between the boy and his dog that steals the show. Shannon captures a mood, a shared moment of companionship and quiet dignity. It reminds me of Sargent's portraits, but with a tender informality. Artists are always in dialogue, aren't they? Each brushstroke is an echo of the past, a whisper to the future. Painting isn't just about what you see; it's about feeling, imagining, and connecting. It’s about creating a space for possibilities.