Panther and Cubs 1878 - 1907

Edward Kemeys made this bronze sculpture of a Panther and Cubs, and it now resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. During the late 19th century, many American artists turned to representing wildlife, reflecting a growing awareness of nature's vulnerability amid rapid industrialization and westward expansion. Kemeys was a pioneer in American sculpture, focusing almost exclusively on animals. Here, the panther exudes a sense of watchful protection, its gaze alert as the cubs nestle close. The sculpture speaks to broader cultural anxieties about the disappearing wilderness. The depiction of the animal kingdom became a way to negotiate the changing relationship between humanity and the natural world. To fully understand this sculpture, one might research the history of wildlife conservation in America, the artistic trends of the time, and the artist's own biography. The meaning of this sculpture is interwoven with its historical and social context, as is the case with any work of art.