Art interprets the world around us. In creating an image, artists are communicating their thoughts through visuals. The titles for these art pieces help us understand the artists’ thinking, tells us more clearly what their idea was and provides us with context for what it is we’re seeing. In this way, artists have the power to influence our understanding of what it is that we are looking at. However, animals can't speak for themselves. Because of this, it is left entirely up to the artist to say what is happening in the scene. They are the only ones with a voice and so have full control over what’s being said. The artist can interpret the scene without any input from the animals shown in the art. In this dynamic, the power is entirely in the hands of the human speaking for the animals. Try looking at these pieces of art without reading the title first. What do you think the artist is trying to communicate? Did your interpretation change after reading the title?
Meditation, Herman Hartwich, 1885
From Smithsonian American Art Museum
The monkey Chico sits looking downcast. He has just been punished by his owner, the
artist himself. Does Chico really understand what has happened? Is he really meditating
on his punishment as the title suggests?
Woman in Arbor with Monkey, Claudio Castelucho
From Smithsonian American Art Museum
The monkey in this artwork is unchained and interacting with a human. Does this make this scene inherently better, or more ethical, than the last?
The elephant Khanderao Bahadur killing Sham Mahavat, ca. 1700
From National Museum of Asian Art Collection
Various figures point spears at a chained elephant. Another figure sits on the elephants
back, hair sticking up and eyes wide with fright. The title implies that the elephant is trying
to hurt the rider. However, could he be responding naturally to being frightened?
Spearhead (maotou), 770-221 BCE, Eastern Zhou dynasty
From National Museum of Asian Art
Can you imagine being jabbed by many of these at once? What would your reaction be?
The Cares of a Family, Nathaniel Currier, 1856
From Smithsonian American Art Museum
Two adult quail and several chicks stand in a patch of grass. While the birds in the image
could be parents and offspring, we don’t really know. The idea of a caring family is a human
one. It’s natural to want to think of any family as loving, but we have no way of knowing for
certain how the birds feel.
Mrs. Hawkins and Family, unknown artist, ca. 1818-1820
From Smithsonian American Art Museum
Do animal families have the same dynamics and relationships as human ones? Is it realistic to idealise the lives of animals living in the wild?
Do you ever project perceived emotions or thoughts onto animals?