Hunt
Anna Gaskell
(2008)
Photograph (C-print)
20 x 24 in
20 x 24 in
Creating a nice contrast and transition from the image above of the child that is one with Earth, this image by Anna Gaskell appears to me as the quintessential image of the child as constructed by the adult world. Here she stands upright, feet on top of Earth, progressively growing into the adult world. The small child with bright orange hunting gear is positioned into an adult posture, which we associate with holding a gun. The violence, though not pictured through an actual image of a gun, is obvious to the viewer because of the blatant social cues - namely, the clothing and posture we associate with hunting. Gaskell creates the relationship between adult and child through the adult hand that braces the child’s shoulder, encouraging her and constructing her movements and actions, just like the metaphorical adult hands that mold the idea of the universal child and childhood. Though there is little work online written about this piece, I think it strongly contrasts the Sally Mann piece above, as this child is one who is separated from Earth, seemingly transitioned or transitioning into the adult world which doesn't always mesh so purely with nature. I think there is also something to be said for the downward slope of the horizon line. The frame dynamics here make the picture seem correct, as the eye follows the lines gentle, but we know that the horizon should be straight. The declining horizon line the points to the figures hips, figuratively splitting her body in half.
Artist Biography: Available at The Guggenheim
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