The Wounded Bear 1845 - 1855

Editor: Emmanuel Frémiet's "The Wounded Bear," a bronze sculpture created sometime between 1845 and 1855, currently resides at the Met. It’s… unsettling. The raw energy of the struggle is palpable, and the way the human figure blends almost seamlessly with the bear is particularly striking. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The melding of human and animal evokes potent archetypes. Think of the ancient legends of transformation—shapeshifters, werewolves, figures that blur the lines of the natural order. The wounded bear, in particular, acts as a powerful symbol. Editor: In what way? Is it like a fall from grace? Curator: Precisely! The bear, often a symbol of strength and untamed nature, is brought low, wounded, vulnerable. This disruption of power throws its representation of dominance into chaos. Note how the human figure, although seemingly dominant, is also contorted in struggle. How might this represent humanity's own grappling with its place in nature, particularly during this time of industrial expansion? Editor: It is almost like humans are equally yoked, with their primitive sides laid bare. Is this Romanticism looking at the dark side of nature, where the line between man and beast is thin, not one of dominance but of intertwined fates? Curator: An insightful interpretation. Also, in looking at our place in society, the bear hearkens back to an almost mythological understanding of self, a cultural memory we continue to carry. Do you find yourself as an observer, or are you brought into the melee? Editor: Definitely pulled in. Before this, I saw an almost theatrical wrestling match, now the symbolism reveals it as a primal scream. Thanks! Curator: Likewise. Looking through the symbolic layers really opens up the sculpture’s enduring relevance.