Three Dogs in an Alley 1825 - 1877

Editor: This mixed-media drawing, "Three Dogs in an Alley," by Charles B. Newhouse, made sometime between 1825 and 1877, strikes me as rather bleak. The dogs seem undernourished, and the alley looks like a forgotten corner of urban life. What can you tell me about the story this artwork might be trying to tell? Curator: I see in this work a commentary on class and visibility. The alley, typically unseen, becomes the stage for these marginalized animals. How does Newhouse’s choice to depict these particular dogs, their breeds and apparent lack of care, influence your understanding of the artwork’s message regarding societal structures? Editor: That’s a great point! The dogs, specifically, seem to be "mixed breeds", or perhaps unwanted. It highlights a specific group's struggle for survival within the context of their social environment. I hadn't considered that before! Does the medium itself play a role in how we interpret that struggle? Curator: Absolutely. The use of mixed media - gouache, graphite, coloured pencil - feels raw and immediate, like a snapshot of a reality others might ignore. Consider how Newhouse might be using this medium to align the artwork with the voices and experiences of those who are similarly overlooked. Where does this raw, immediate feeling leave you as you consider the larger questions? Editor: It gives it a certain urgency. Like Newhouse is saying, "Look at this; it's happening now". Thanks, I feel I can appreciate how art can also make a statement. Curator: Exactly. It makes us question who and what we choose to see, and why. This approach underscores the political dimension inherent in art.