AfII 0010 The Old Lion and The Fox CharlesSantore sqs * Charles Santore (1935-)

The composition presents a fox within what appears to be a cavernous space. The artist has rendered the environment with muted earth tones – browns, tans, and ochres – creating a sense of enclosure and perhaps even confinement. Jagged rock formations dominate the background, their surfaces textured with subtle variations in color that suggest depth and shadow. A large, dark area at the top right further emphasizes this feeling of being within a natural, somewhat oppressive setting.
The fox is positioned centrally, its posture suggesting eagerness or anticipation. It holds a bouquet of yellow flowers, tied with a pale pink ribbon, which it presents forward. The expression on the animal’s face conveys a mixture of excitement and perhaps a touch of nervousness; the open mouth and wide eyes contribute to this impression. A bow adorns its neck, adding an element of formality or ceremony to the scene.
The foreground is strewn with what appear to be bones and small pebbles. Near the bottom right corner, a large paw print is visible, seemingly embedded in the ground. These details introduce a layer of complexity to the narrative. The presence of bones hints at predation or mortality, contrasting sharply with the offering of flowers – a gesture typically associated with peace, friendship, or apology. This juxtaposition creates an immediate tension between potential threat and overture.
The paw print could be interpreted as belonging to a larger creature, perhaps the recipient of the fox’s offering, suggesting a power dynamic at play. The overall effect is one of carefully constructed ambiguity; the viewer is left to ponder the nature of the relationship between the fox and the unseen entity it addresses, and the significance of this unusual exchange within the confines of its rocky domain.