Red Kangaroos In The Outback 

Curator: Here we have "Red Kangaroos In The Outback," an oil painting attributed to Wilhelm Kuhnert. I am struck by the imposing posture of the main kangaroo. Editor: Right? He seems very...pensive, almost self-conscious. Is he about to deliver a soliloquy on the meaning of eucalyptus? It’s pretty commanding but has a hint of gentleness. Curator: Indeed. There is a noble bearing to this central figure, rendered with such exacting detail, very classical portraiture conventions used for an animal. It really pulls focus on ideas of wildness and identity. But consider also the scene in the background, those smaller, more active kangaroos. Editor: The little chorus line of hoppers? They give this tableau a kind of dynamism and playfulness that undercuts the gravity of our kangaroo hero. They suggest life goes on. Love that they are there; gives some perspective to the scale, not just in size, but of his "roo-minations". Curator: Very punny of you! What interests me, particularly in the context of European artists painting animals, is this very classic, portrait-like image, but of these animals. Do you think he chose the kangaroo specifically as a reflection on his experiences with animals, specifically as symbols? Editor: Maybe, or perhaps the kangaroos presented the ideal, exotic subject? Though, thinking about it, kangaroos are so visually arresting: the strange anatomy, powerful legs, almost human poses. This painter, perhaps intentionally, puts human emotions on non-humans. What feelings resonate for you when viewing these iconic symbols? Curator: Seeing them rendered in this classical style triggers a certain respect but also perhaps sadness. They remind me that human artistic expression and colonial desires have forever colored our views and knowledge of the wild, of nature, and of ourselves. Editor: Absolutely. This painting is a reminder, a marker of both fascination and perhaps a gentle prod at our anthropocentric viewpoint, wouldn't you agree?