A Friendly Tussle 

Julie Bell’s painting captures wolves engaged in a playful tussle, a dance of dominance and affection. These creatures, often seen as symbols of wilderness and untamed nature, carry a rich, complex history. Consider the motif of the wolf throughout cultures: from Romulus and Remus, raised by a she-wolf, to the fearsome predators of folklore. In many traditions, the wolf embodies both nurturing and destructive forces, mirroring the duality within human nature itself. This tension is palpable; the wolves’ interaction is tender, yet the latent power in their musculature hints at the potential for aggression. Observe how Bell captures the emotional nuances in their eyes, reflecting a consciousness that transcends the purely animalistic. This image becomes a canvas onto which we project our own understanding of pack dynamics, family bonds, and the inherent wildness that exists both within us and in the world around us. This piece compels us to consider the symbols we create, the fears we project, and how they shape our understanding of nature and our place within it.