Polar bears have captivated artists' imaginations for centuries, but what they've symbolized has changed over time
- Written by Anne Collins Goodyear, Co-Director of the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Bowdoin College
The giant predators were a deadly danger to early European explorers of the Arctic.Chris Hellier/Corbis Historical via Getty ImagesPolar bears have long held visual artists in their thrall. Over time, the mythologies around these extraordinary animals have evolved – and so have the ways artists have depicted them in their work.
Reflecting a...