Arctic Hare c. 1841

Curator: Looking at this watercolor drawing, Arctic Hare, completed circa 1841 by John James Audubon, what strikes you most immediately? Editor: Honestly, it’s their chill. These aren't rabbits scampering away; they are utterly at peace. One’s practically luminous, right? As if radiating stillness. Curator: The contrast is striking indeed. We might think about how Audubon's Romantic sensibilities inform his representations of wildlife within a specific socio-political framework. What does it mean to portray animals with such deliberate composure during an era of expansion? What sort of narrative does that establish about humanity’s relationship with the natural world? Editor: Well, there's definitely something unsettling too, maybe I'm overthinking, but they’re posed so… clinically? Almost like specimens. Makes me a bit queasy. Curator: Audubon, though celebrated for his dedication, undoubtedly operated within and perpetuated existing power structures. There are always layers of exploitation when representing the other. Do you agree? Editor: Exploitation… That’s heavy. I see what you're getting at though. I can't shake that clinical feel either, even with the stunning landscape softening it up. Curator: Yet, we can acknowledge the unsettling nature of representation while appreciating the undeniable beauty. The rendering of light on fur is particularly captivating, demonstrating both observational skill and artistic vision. Consider the impact that illustrative traditions can have on modern environmental discourses. Editor: Right. Even the colors— that creamy white next to the earthy grey… Makes me think about hidden landscapes, about duality. Like they embody opposing seasons. I keep getting lost in details. The way the whiskers catch the light... dreamy. Curator: A fitting interpretation. These details are deliberate. And what could that say about how colonialist attitudes still shape artmaking, and art consumption, today? Editor: It feels incomplete, but there's potential. You made me think of it as a reflection on us humans more than them bunnies and now I have this pit in my stomach! Thanks for pointing out that, sometimes, reality it isn’t always pretty.