Bear Trap; verso: Tree Trunk and Partial Landscape 1861

Editor: Here we have Sanford Robinson Gifford’s “Bear Trap; verso: Tree Trunk and Partial Landscape,” a pencil drawing of modest size. The subject matter feels…stark. What do you see in this piece, especially considering it’s a sketch? Curator: Consider the labor involved in setting a bear trap, the materiality of the iron, the physical act of hunting and the societal context of man versus nature. These sketches speak to resource extraction, ecological impact, and economic activity. The verso, a tree trunk, contrasts the raw material with a manufactured object. Editor: So, it's less about the beauty of nature and more about our interaction—or perhaps exploitation—of it? Curator: Precisely. It highlights the human impact on the landscape. Gifford’s choice of subject and his method raise questions about our relationship to the natural world and the tools we create. Editor: That reframes my perspective entirely; it reveals a darker side to a seemingly simple sketch. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Examining the means of production changes how we see even the most unassuming art.