Painter of Bovine Poetry : Notes on Rosa Bonheur

Born on this day in 1822 was an artist who built landscapes around livestock.

Detail of Bonheur’s “Plowing in the Nivernais (Labourages nivernais)” c. 1850. Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Florida. Author photo of work in public domain.

What question is the white ox asking us?

French artist Rosa Bonheur (1822–1899) painted this scene as though we, the viewers, have distracted this lovely animal at its work.