Fawn 1923 - 1927

Anna Hyatt Huntington made this bronze sculpture, Fawn, sometime in the early 20th century, and it’s such a sensitive rendering. You can really see her interest in animal anatomy, but also her sensitivity to capturing a fleeting moment. The surface texture is what gets me; it's almost like she was drawing in the wax before she cast it. See how the marks around the neck and shoulders are rough and broken. They give the fawn this incredible sense of vitality, as if you could reach out and feel the animal’s breath. The bronze has this lovely, warm patina that invites you to get up close, and follow the lines of the sculpture with your eyes. Huntington was one of the great animaliers, and I see echoes of Rosa Bonheur in her work, but also a keen awareness of how we perceive animals, not just as objects of beauty, but as living, breathing creatures with their own inner lives. And I think, as always with good art, Huntington leaves room for us to bring our own interpretation to the piece.