A cinematic moment frozen in paint, Scrubby’s Reception captures the story of Scrubby—a loyal dog forever in the shadow of his owner’s complex duty. Bert Esenherz renders this imagined scene with emotional charge and a sense of paused motion, as if pulled from a forgotten film reel.

Narrative & Concept

Scrubby stands at the edge of something—arrival or farewell, loyalty or uncertainty. The “reception” in the title suggests more than just a greeting; it’s a threshold moment, intimate and cinematic. The painting is less a literal portrait and more a still-impression: a narrative pause that leaves the story unfolding in the viewer’s mind.

Context in the Artist’s Work

Part of Esenherz’s 2019 series shown in ROOTS at Twelve Chairs Gallery, this piece connects to works like Flower Heist and Alien Encounter, each exploring narrative through expressive abstraction. Here, Esenherz brings a touch of whimsy and heart to the tension of his visual storytelling.

Scrubby’s Reception is a portrait not just of a dog, but of quiet devotion and narrative mystery. It’s a testament to Esenherz’s talent for turning memory, gesture, and invented myth into richly painted scenes that feel deeply lived.