Head, Paw and Fur of a Muskrat 19th-20th century

Curator: William Rowan's delicate graphite drawing presents us with the "Head, Paw and Fur of a Muskrat," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s unsettling. The disembodied head and paw, rendered so precisely, evoke a clinical dissection, but with a strange tenderness. Curator: Rowan’s process is fascinating. Notice the detailed rendering of the fur—each stroke carefully placed to capture the texture. It really shows his deep understanding of material and form. Perhaps this level of detail speaks to the fur trade’s impact on the local economy at the time? Editor: Absolutely, situating this artwork historically we can view it as a complex statement. The muskrat becomes a symbol of exploitation, of nature commodified. Curator: Viewing it through that lens really shifts its meaning. Editor: Indeed. What initially seemed like a simple study now reveals uncomfortable truths about our relationship with the natural world.