Stag c. 19th century

Editor: This bronze sculpture, "Stag" by Ferdinand Pautrot, captures the animal in mid-roar. It feels so primal and powerful. What do you make of it? Curator: The stag, across cultures, embodies potent symbolism – virility, nobility, but also vulnerability. Consider its antlers: a crown representing authority, yet they're shed and regrown, a cycle of death and rebirth. Editor: So, it's not just about outward strength? Curator: Exactly. The stag's roar could be defiance, a call to the wild, or even a lament. Pautrot captures this duality. What do you feel when you look at its upturned head? Editor: Now I see a deeper connection between power and vulnerability in this sculpture. Curator: And that's the enduring magic of symbols.