Artwork

Hare Pursued by a Goshawk

Hare Pursued by a Goshawk, by Karl Bodmer, 1858
Hare Pursued by a Goshawk, by Karl Bodmer, 1858

Hare Pursued by a Goshawk is a print by the Impressionist artist Karl Bodmer. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Hare Pursued by a Goshawk is an 1858 print by Swiss-French artist Karl Bodmer, showcasing his skill in capturing wildlife dynamics within a natural setting.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a tense moment in a forest, where a hare, frozen in tension on the ground, is intently watched by a goshawk perched in a bare, twisted tree. The scene highlights the predator-prey relationship in a state of suspended action.

Technique & Style

Bodmer employed sharp, detailed lines to convey the intensity of the hunt, emphasizing the contrast between the hare's tense posture and the hawk's vigilant stance, set against a backdrop of bare trees and brush-covered ground.

History & Provenance

Part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, this work represents a later phase in Bodmer's career, when he shifted from primarily depicting European landscapes and cities to focusing on natural history subjects.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Karl Bodmer

Artist

Karl Bodmer

Johann Carl Bodmer (11 February 1809 – 30 October 1893) was a Swiss-French printmaker, etcher, lithographer, zinc engraver, draughtsman, painter, illustrator, and hunter.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.