Rabbit c. 19th century

Curator: Oh, there's something so melancholic and expansive about this scene. Editor: This is "Rabbit" by William Henry Simmons. It's a scene that, on the surface, depicts two hunters with their dog, and what appears to be a dead goat on a moor. It's a study in shades of gray, very textural. Curator: The rabbits slung over the shoulder, the hunting dogs, and the wide open space. I wonder about the symbolism of the hunt—the taking of life, survival—and how that plays into our own internal landscapes. Editor: Right. This could be a modern reinterpretation of Saint Eustace, a Roman soldier whose conversion started when he saw a crucifix between the antlers of a stag. It represents his spiritual hunt for God. Curator: Perhaps the artist invites us to consider our own roles as hunters, seeking meaning or fulfillment in a world that can sometimes feel as stark and unforgiving as this landscape. Editor: It's a reminder that even in the quietest images, there's a world of symbols waiting to be unearthed.