Dog Harry and Another Setter
Original title: [Thomas Eakins's Dog Harry and Another Setter]
kurzbeschreibung
Two dogs lie close together on a tiled floor, resting. Thomas Eakins made the photograph in the 1880s, and the platinum process gives it soft tonal values and an extremely precise rendering of the animals' fur.
Description
A large dark dog fills the foreground, stretched out on the floor with its head turned to the right; its thick coat looks as though it has been stirred by wind. Beside it a lighter, spotted dog has settled down, facing left. Both wear collars. A door, a curtain and a wall emerge behind the animals, and the tiled floor runs through the picture beneath them.
Context
During the 1880s Eakins worked increasingly with the camera, which he saw as a tool for art and science alike. He photographed movement and private subjects, and platinum prints were prized in their day for their permanence and warm tone. The two dogs likely came from his immediate surroundings, since animals recur throughout his work.
Impact
A quiet, familiar mood comes from the two animals, who present themselves calmly to the viewer. Light and dark coats set up a lively contrast, and this interplay of tones draws the eye deep into the picture.
Technique
The print was made in platinum, valued for its fine gradations of grey and matte surface. At roughly 8.5 x 10.4 cm the format is small, which suggests a direct contact print from the negative.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)