Locked in Death (Bear and Panther) c. 1896

Cast in bronze around 1896 by Edward Kemeys, this sculpture captures a brutal moment in the natural world. Kemeys was known for his animal sculptures, and here, the qualities of bronze itself - its density, its capacity to hold fine detail - intensify the drama. The lost wax casting process used would have begun with a wax model, carefully formed to capture the tension in the animals’ bodies. Molten bronze was then poured in, and once cooled, the mold was broken away, and the surface finished with chisels and patinas. Bronze, as a material, connects this sculpture to a long history of monumental art, yet Kemeys applies it to a distinctly modern subject, the raw struggle for survival. The sculpture’s realism reflects a scientific interest in accurately depicting animal anatomy, while its dramatic composition reveals the influence of Romanticism. Ultimately, Locked in Death invites us to consider how even the most refined artistic processes can be used to portray the harsh realities of life, and the ongoing contest between nature and culture.