This striking and deeply emotive contemporary work by South African artist Pauline Hugo, signed and dated 2017 lower right, beautifully captures a quiet moment of connection between human hands and a dog’s paws against a textured, neutral-toned background. Measuring a substantial 70cm x 70cm, the square canvas features raw, expressive brushwork and a compelling, tight perspective that emphasizes texture and form over traditional portraiture. The artwork is in excellent original condition, presented on a stretched canvas block without a frame, showing no signs of fading, surface damage, or paint loss, making it ready for display.