Antelope c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have Antoine Louis Barye’s "Antelope," a monochrome wash drawing. It feels so solitary, doesn’t it? All that space and just one animal. What story do you think Barye is trying to tell? Curator: Barye's animals often carry a weight of symbolism. Look at the way the antelope is positioned - alert, yet almost vulnerable. It makes me wonder if it's a meditation on survival or perhaps a nod to the fragility of the natural world. It also seems so alone, doesn’t it? Editor: It does. I hadn't considered the 'survival' angle. Curator: Art can be like a mirror, reflecting our own anxieties and hopes back at us, don't you think? Editor: Definitely. I’ll look at Barye’s works differently now.