Harper’s October 1895

Edward Penfield created this poster for Harper's October issue, depicting a hunter engrossed in a book, seemingly oblivious to the two rabbits at his side. These rabbits are not merely decorative; they carry a rich symbolic load. Across cultures, rabbits often embody fertility and vulnerability. Think of the ancient Roman association of rabbits with the goddess Venus, or their later association with the Virgin Mary and innocence. Yet, here, they stand before a hunter, symbols of nature facing potential destruction. The hunter reading suggests a modern individual detached from primal instincts, more absorbed in intellectual pursuits than the hunt itself. It’s as if he’s consulting a manual on how to hunt, rather than relying on inherent skill. We see a similar theme in Albrecht Dürer's "Melancholia I," where tools of creation and destruction lie idle, overshadowed by contemplation. This image evokes a complex interplay between culture and nature. The hunter's negligence is a mirror reflecting humanity's evolving relationship with its environment. The non-linear progression of this symbol has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.