Balance 

This is Norval Morrisseau’s painting, “Balance,” featuring a cluster of animals painted with vibrant colors. In Anishinaabe culture, animals are symbols of different clans and play a crucial role in storytelling. Here, we see birds and a bear, archetypes that have echoed through countless cultures. The bird often represents freedom and spiritual insight, seen even in ancient Egyptian art as a symbol of the soul's journey. The bear, in many traditions, embodies strength and introspection, hibernating in the darkness to emerge renewed, much like the cyclical nature of life itself. Morrisseau masterfully captures the interconnectedness of these creatures against fields of contrasting colors, embodying the harmonious tension necessary for balance. This pursuit of equilibrium resonates deeply, tapping into our primal need for order and stability, a theme as old as humanity itself. We see it resurface throughout history, from ancient philosophy to modern psychology, constantly evolving yet eternally relevant.