Protected 

Julie Bell’s painting presents us with the profound symbol of protection embodied by a mother bison watching over her calf. The iconography of maternal protection is as old as art itself. Think of the Egyptian goddess Isis sheltering her son Horus, a motif echoed through the ages in countless Madonna and Child depictions. The mother figure looms large, her size a visual metaphor for her protective strength. This links back to ancient concepts of the Great Mother, a primal force of nature, nurturing and fiercely protective of her offspring. We also find parallels in the animal kingdom, where maternal instincts are portrayed as raw, powerful drives. Consider how this image speaks to our collective memory. The bison, a symbol of the American West, evokes ideas of wilderness, survival, and the primal bond between mother and young. The artist invites us to tap into these deep-seated emotions, reminding us of the universal need for safety and security. This cyclical motif of motherly protection will continue to resurface, evolving with each telling yet retaining its core emotional resonance.