Small Black Bear

Edward Kemeys, Small Black Bear, ca. 1870-1907, plaster, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of J. Willis Johnson, 1984.141.11
Copied Edward Kemeys, Small Black Bear, ca. 1870-1907, plaster, 4 1⁄4 x 3 1⁄2 x 5 in. (10.8 x 8.9 x 12.7 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of J. Willis Johnson, 1984.141.11
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Small Black Bear
Artist
Date
ca. 1870-1907
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
4 1⁄4 x 3 1⁄2 x 5 in. (10.8 x 8.9 x 12.7 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of J. Willis Johnson
Mediums
Mediums Description
plaster
Classifications
Keywords
  • Animal — bear
Object Number
1984.141.11
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1984.141.11

Artwork Description

Edward Kemeys modeled many sculptures of the black and grizzly bears that he saw on his travels in the American West. He portrayed each animal’s formidable power while also capturing a lighter, more playful side to its character. In this way, Kemeys created a fiction in which wild animals were transformed into approachable, friendly creatures.