Cheiftain's Friends c. 19th century

Curator: This is "Chieftain's Friends" by James Charles, though the piece is undated. It's held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There’s a kind of serene melancholy to the composition, with the figure surrounded by his animals in muted tones. Curator: I find the contrast in textures compelling: the smooth skin of the greyhound against the rough feathers of the hawk, the boy's soft shawl against the dog's smooth coat. Editor: It's interesting how images of men and their animals served to reinforce notions of land ownership and status throughout much of the 19th Century. Hunting, of course, was often linked to power. Curator: Indeed. The tonal gradations, achieved without color, create depth and substance. The triangular composition draws the eye upward, unifying figure and animals. Editor: Considering this, the work becomes a meditation on social power and identity construction. Curator: Exactly, it is a fascinating study in form and technique. Editor: Quite so, with interesting commentary on class and visual power.