I’m the one who is supposed to chase represents subversion of power and status as seen in classical portraits. Often posed with expensive or exotic pet animals, these portraits of the aristocracy convey agency and self-determination, an autonomy denied to people of color (POC) and animals. POC and animals have been subjected to colonization, pursued and chased, subdued and used, by those who wield authority. Here, this tender depiction between two kindred souls—the man and his rabbit—push back against the centuries of violence brought upon them and surprise the viewer with unexpected subject matter in a familiar pose.
