Fox Returning to Its Den c. 1873

Curator: Here we have Karl Bodmer's "Fox Returning to Its Den," a charming print housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is of a hidden world, a secret glimpse into the fox's quiet, watchful life. The tight composition feels intimate. Curator: Bodmer, known for his depictions of the American West, captures the fox here with a European sensibility. Notice how this animal becomes part of this thicket, nearly one with its surroundings. Editor: The fox is a potent symbol, often associated with cunning, but also with domesticity and family. I see a return, a seeking of safety within a familiar space, a need for belonging. Curator: Indeed. The fox held different meanings for different indigenous groups. This image, though, seems deliberately detached from specific cultural narratives, allowing for broader readings. Editor: So, what does this image tell us about the representation of wilderness in 19th-century art? Curator: I think it demonstrates the human need to find narratives even in the seemingly untouched natural world, and how those narratives change as they travel between cultures. Editor: It’s a reminder of the powerful narratives embedded in even the most unassuming images.