The lifted foot of the woman and the curved tail of the dog mirror one another, creating an enclosed and intimate space between the three bodies, as well as a reciprocity and familiarity between the figures. The dog cradled in the woman’s arms reaches up to lick her face, while she is depicted in profile looking towards the other dog. The flatness and doubled lines of the print suggest Miller has been influence by aboriginal art, creating pattern and dynamism with simple lines and exaggerated features, such as the large feet, face and the angular shape of the body. The name of the piece subverts the well-known phrase ‘Man’s Best Friend’, overriding the use of man as a universal word for human and placing women into a narrative around a rugged intimacy with an other-than-human animal.
Jane Miller attended Glasgow School of Art, graduating in 1993