Running Doe and Buck c. 20th century

Editor: Here we have “Running Doe and Buck,” a circa 20th-century watercolor and drawing currently residing at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It strikes me as very stylized, almost like a textile design. What's your take? Curator: Stylization is key. Notice how the doe and buck are rendered not realistically, but through a specific cultural lens, possibly Indigenous. How does the seemingly innocent depiction of nature perhaps conceal complex social and political realities? Consider how Native artists historically used art to subvert dominant narratives and assert sovereignty. Editor: That's not something I considered. So, the style pushes back against established forms? Curator: Precisely. The “flattening” of perspective, the vibrant yet unconventional colors...These stylistic choices could be seen as acts of resistance, reclaiming visual language to tell their own stories, defying colonial expectations of representation. What impact do you think that might have on contemporary viewers? Editor: It reclaims the narrative, as you say. I initially saw something pretty, but now I see assertion. It completely changes the tone of the piece. Curator: Yes! And consider how these artists challenged dominant art world structures. By employing geometric abstraction and traditional techniques, they blurred boundaries, disrupting notions of high and low art and disrupting established art hierarchies. How does this artwork inform conversations about cultural appropriation and representation today? Editor: I'm seeing how it becomes a potent symbol of resilience and cultural pride. I wouldn’t have noticed without considering these perspectives. Thank you! Curator: Absolutely. Engaging with art through this lens allows us to acknowledge the past and participate in the construction of a more inclusive and equitable future.