The Throat of Wolf 1863

Curator: Adolphe Appian, a 19th-century artist, created this print, titled "The Throat of Wolf." It's held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by how melancholic it feels, that lone figure walking toward the house. It evokes such a sense of solitude. Curator: Appian's landscapes often explore that tension between humanity and nature. The etching technique lends itself to this mood, with its stark contrasts. Considering the title, I think about the dangers, both literal and metaphorical, of entering a "throat." Editor: Absolutely. And the gendered implications of landscape, too, as something to be conquered or possessed. Who has access to this path, and who is excluded? The title is so incredibly suggestive, hinting at a place of enclosure. Curator: It's interesting that you pick up on the ideas of access and enclosure. I was thinking more about vulnerability when I first saw it, the way the light falls on the road ahead. I wonder if this person knows what awaits them. Editor: I think it is really cool how a seemingly small image can still evoke some pretty big questions. Curator: Indeed. Art invites us to reflect.