The Coyote - Arizona 1880

Editor: So, here we have "The Coyote - Arizona" by Thomas Moran, dating back to 1880. It’s an etching on paper. I find it quite haunting; the coyote looks almost like a ghost in the landscape. What do you see in this piece, especially considering its title and the time it was made? Curator: The coyote itself is significant. It’s a creature deeply embedded in the cultural memory of the American Southwest, representing adaptability, survival, and even trickery in Indigenous narratives. Moran, a Romantic painter, uses it here to evoke a feeling of the sublime – nature's powerful, indifferent presence. Consider also, what does this coyote, etched in 1880, tell us about westward expansion? Editor: That's fascinating. The title clearly places it geographically, but thinking about the cultural implications, the coyote could symbolize the wild, untamed aspects of the land that settlers were trying to subdue. Curator: Precisely! And the etching technique, with its stark contrasts and fine lines, emphasizes this tension. Light and dark battle in this composition. The animal is heading for light in a seemingly perilous journey between rocks, brush and trees. The shadows contribute to this unsettling, awe-inspiring atmosphere, mirroring the psychological state of those confronting the vast American West. Have you also considered how Moran might have used symbolism familiar from earlier landscape painting traditions? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way, but now I see how Moran layers meanings. It's not just a depiction of a coyote, but a symbol loaded with historical and cultural weight. Thanks so much for pointing out the narrative within the picture, instead of just looking *at* the picture! Curator: The symbolic density of seemingly simple images is something that never ceases to fascinate me. I am glad you got as much as I do from this artwork!