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“Hallo, Rabbit,” he said, “is that you?”
"Let’s pretend it isn’t,” said Rabbit, “and see what happens.” ― A. A. Milne RABBITS IN ART HISTORY
🟠 Throughout history, artists have included rabbits within their work or given this fluffy creature centre stage as the main subject. From the ancient symbolism of the “three hares” which has been found in cultures across the globe; through the Renaissance and every western art movement that followed; and including iconic film and literary references such as Donnie Darko, Harvey, Alice in Wonderland and Watership Down: the rabbit is simultaneously a deceptively simple and immensely complex motif. 🟠 The rabbit as a feature in religious, secular and folk art forms dates back many centuries. Like the Green Man, it is possible that the symbol of the rabbit has roots deep in the collective folk memory of the land itself. 🟠 Within art, the rabbit can represent fertility, luck, creativity, compassion, or intuition. In the Christian art canon, rabbits (or hares) are associated with concepts of birth and resurrection. 🟠 For an artist with a long list of allusions and information to convey in a single painting, symbols are a visual shorthand that can do a lot of heavy lifting: • A reminder that life is short and death ever-present? Rabbits have a short life cycle, in line with the seasons, making them an ideal visual nod to themes of mortality. • Need an oblique reference to the cycle of life, or - gasp! - sex? The rabbit’s rapid breeding rate implies fertility and sensuality; • How about a charming allusion to youthful innocence and love? As a prey animal hunted for food, as well as a pet, rabbits were equally synonymous with these qualities. So if you notice a rabbit in a painting, take a closer look. It isn’t there by accident - and it’s probably working quite hard! DID YOU KNOW? • Frank, the iconic rabbit form that renders Donnie Darko such an arresting and memorable film, may be inspired by the Púca, a mischievous spirit from Irish folklore that can take the form of an animal (often a rabbit or horse). The film’s Writer-Director Richard Kelly has said that the dark themes and dissonance found in Richard Adams’ Watership Down were a big influence on the work. • Rabbits, particularly white rabbits, are often associated with luck, fertility, and even the concept of "rabbit's foot" for good luck. The white rabbit in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland beautifully represents the nonsensical nature of Wonderland itself, as he constantly checks his watch and panics at failing to cope with the time pressures and societal expectations apparently heaped upon him. He embodies the ultimate symbol of ‘good luck’ whilst simultaneously having no faith in his own ability to be lucky. SOURCES AND FURTHER READING:
• Rabbits and Hares in Art; Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbits_and_hares_in_art • The Three Hares; Dartmoor Explorations https://dartmoorexplorations.co.uk/the-three-hares/ • Going down the rabbit hole, Jade King Art UK https://artuk.org/discover/stories/going-down-the-rabbit-hole • The Three Hares – A Sacred Medieval Westcountry Symbol; Tom Greeves https://www.artcornwall.org/features/Three_Hares.htm |
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