Possum Hunt c. 1938 - 1940

Adams Wirt Garrett's drawing, created around 1938-40, depicts a group of men on a possum hunt, their figures illuminated by a single lantern in the dark. The lantern, a beacon against the unknown, has been a recurring symbol throughout art history, symbolizing hope, guidance, and the search for knowledge. Consider how this simple object, the lantern, finds its echo in classical myths like that of Diogenes, who wandered with a lamp in broad daylight, seeking an honest man. Here, the lantern guides these hunters, not towards moral virtue, but towards a primal pursuit of sustenance, a basic human need. This image evokes a sense of communal purpose under the cloak of night. The act of hunting, deeply rooted in our collective unconscious, speaks to a shared instinctual drive, connecting us to our ancestors and a timeless narrative of survival. The shadowed faces and looming landscape invite us to reflect on our connection to nature and the rituals that bind communities together.