The artwork titled “A Blockade Runner,” created by Briton Riviere in 1888, is a notable piece within the Realism art movement and falls under the genre of animal painting.
In the artwork, a dynamic scene is depicted where a group of dogs is fervently observing a cat positioned on top of a red brick wall. The setting appears to be an enclosed courtyard or alley. One of the dogs, in mid-leap, shows an intense focus on attempting to reach the cat, which gazes down at its pursuer with a calm demeanor. The reddish-brown brick wall provides a rich, textured background contrasting with the soft, detailed fur of the animals, emphasizing the tension and movement in the scene. The artist’s skill in rendering the realistic features and expressions of the animals enhances the vivacity and sense of narrative within the painting.
