Still Hunt 1894

Editor: This is "Still Hunt," a bronze relief sculpture created by Edward Kemeys in 1894. The animal depicted seems to be a lion lying on a rock. I'm immediately struck by its quiet tension, it looks powerful and alert, ready to pounce. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The lion is actually a cougar, native to North America. The choice of a cougar, and the title “Still Hunt,” are significant. Kemeys was known for his depictions of wild animals, specifically North American fauna. He understood their symbolism. This cougar embodies a sense of primal energy, a connection to a wilder America. Editor: So the cougar isn't just an animal, it's representing something bigger? Curator: Absolutely! The cougar as an image carries cultural weight, particularly in the late 19th century when America was rapidly changing. Think of it as a symbol of untamed nature. Its stillness suggests the quiet before a dramatic shift, a loaded pause. Where does that put your mind, given its display location at the Met, here in NYC? Editor: That's fascinating! Knowing that it’s a cougar and the potential symbolism of a 'wilder' America displayed inside a modern institution adds so many layers. So it could reference the cost of so-called "progress". Thank you. Curator: Precisely! I’m glad to share how artists use animals, plants, or really anything they find, as loaded figures for much larger cultural dramas. It really expands how we approach any image.