Eagle Pursuing Rabbit 1885

This Japanese scroll painting, “Eagle Pursuing Rabbit,” was created by Kawanabe Kyōsai in the 19th century. The eagle, perched atop a craggy precipice, is about to take flight, its gaze fixed on the rabbit below. The rabbit, a symbol of fertility and cleverness, darts away from the predator in the sky. The motif of the predatory bird and the vulnerable prey resonates across cultures and epochs. Think of the Roman mosaics depicting similar hunting scenes, or even the countless heraldic emblems featuring eagles, symbols of power and dominion. Yet, here, it's not merely a display of dominance. The artist captures a fleeting moment—the tension, the adrenaline—a drama as old as time itself. This dynamic resonates on a subconscious level, evoking primal instincts and the universal dance between hunter and hunted, a cycle that transcends cultural boundaries. It embodies the cyclical nature of life and death and the continuous change and adaptation of symbols.