1856
oil
canvas
From the collection of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
A Tight Fix—Bear Hunting, Early Winter is a 1856 oil by Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait, held at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
This painting depicts a tense scene in a snowy forest. A man in a brown coat and tan pants sits on the ground, looking up at a large black bear that stands on its hind legs, its mouth open as if growling. The bear's front paws are raised, and the man holds a knife in his right hand. In the background, another man in a hat and coat stands behind a tree, holding a rifle. The scene is set in a snowy forest, with tall trees and a gray sky. The snow-covered ground is littered with twigs and leaves. The overall mood of the painting is one of danger and tension, as the man faces off against the aggressive bear. The use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume and depth, adds to the dramatic effect of the scene.
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (February 5, 1819 – April 28, 1905) was a British-American artist who is known mostly for his paintings of wildlife. During most of his career, he was associated with the New York City art scene.
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