Shelley Reed (US American, b. 1958)
Predator/Prey (after Oudry), 2011
oil on canvas
Ram 20″ x 20″, Fox 12″ x 12″, Leopard 16″ x 16″, Swan 20″ x 16″, Wolf 16″ x 16″
Sinon Collection Fund. 2017.13a, 2017.13b, 2017.13c, 2017.13d, 2017.13e
Working exclusively in black and white, Shelley Reed faithfully reproduces fragments of 17th and 18th century Northern European paintings. In Predator/Prey, Reed chose five animal heads from several different paintings by the French Rococo painter, Jean Baptiste Oudry. By isolating the animal heads, Shelley intensifies the drama as the predators intimidate their victims and the prey recoil in fear. Presenting the animals devoid of context also forces the viewer to question the animals’ surroundings and why they are reacting this way. The decision to stick to grayscale allows for light to become an additional subject matter, reflecting the rich textures found on the animals.