Still Hunt

Art Historical Context

**Still Hunt**, a captivating bronze sculpture by Edward Kem from 1894, captures tense moment of a predator poised for action. Measuring 22 1/8 x 28 inches, this American work exemplifies Kemeys's mastery in depicting wildlife with lifelike intensity. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, it reflects the late 19th-century fascination with the American wilderness, acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1972. Kemeys, often hailed as the pioneer of American animal sculpture, inspiration from his deep observations of animals in zoos and the wild, blending European animalier traditions with a distinctly rugged American realism. *Still Hunt* showcases his ability to convey motion frozen in stillness—a cougar's muscles taut, eyes fixed—evoking the drama of nature's survival instincts. As part of the animalier movement adapted to U.S. themes, it highlights the era's romanticized view of untamed frontiers amid rapid industrialization. Crafted in bronze, a durable medium ideal for capturing fine details through lost-wax casting and patination, the piece weighs 51 pounds framed, underscoring its substantial presence. For visitors, it invites reflection on humanity's connection to the animal world, a timeless reminder of predatory grace in American art.