Artist: Rosa Bonheur (French, Bordeaux 1822–1899 Thomery)

Date: 1852–55

Medium: Oil on canvas

Title: The Horse Fair

Providence: Currently in the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Source: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/435702

Describe: In this painting we see many horses and many people. We can also see trees, and in the middle right corner you can see the outline of what, to me, looks like a house. 

Analyze: This artist uses major contrast on this piece. You can see this mainly in the colors of the horses. Some are brown, some are black, but most noticeably are the white ones. Also if you look close enough, you can see the the white horses have their tales tied up while the black and brown horses have their tails down. Another contrast that we see is from the ground and the trees. The ground is a warm color while the trees are a deep green, cool color. 

Interpret: I think that this artist was trying to show people rounding up horses. In the back, the horses are more wild and no one is riding them. But as you get to the front they become more tame and the horses have people on their backs. 

Judge: I like this painting because it uses contrast in many ways. But also it gives the allusion of space. In the far back there appears to be a shadow of some building left behind. Also the trees gradually become smaller the further they go back.