The Challenge 1917

Archibald Thorburn made this watercolor painting, "The Challenge," in 1912. It depicts two red grouse in a Scottish landscape, with one bird standing alert and calling out. Thorburn was a popular artist in Britain, known for his detailed and accurate portrayals of birds and other wildlife. He captured the aesthetic tastes of the upper classes, who had the leisure time to engage in hunting and other outdoor activities. His art reflects a growing interest in natural history, but also speaks to the role of the countryside as a recreational space for the wealthy. The title itself suggests a kind of territorial claim, reminiscent of the social hierarchies of the time. By studying things like ornithological guides, sporting magazines, and estate records, we can understand how Thorburn's paintings served to reinforce certain values and pastimes of British society.