#48595 Adrienne Segur

The drawing presents a domestic scene rendered in meticulous detail with cross-hatching and fine lines. A fox, anthropomorphized and dressed in what appears to be an apron over a formal shirt, dominates the composition. The animal stands near a kitchen sink, its gaze directed upwards towards a startled pheasant suspended mid-air, feathers scattered around it.
The setting is clearly a domestic interior; a stove with various cooking implements sits behind the fox, and several fish are visible on a shelf. A large frying pan hangs from the fox’s hand, suggesting an interrupted activity. Below the fox, three mice, also dressed in formal attire – collared shirts and what appear to be waistcoats – are huddled together, their expressions conveying fear or apprehension. They seem to be observing the scene with a mixture of anxiety and curiosity. A decorative vase sits prominently at the bottom center of the image.
The subtext of this drawing revolves around themes of power dynamics, deception, and social role reversal. The fox, traditionally associated with cunning and trickery, is placed in a position of authority within a human-like domestic setting. Its formal attire suggests an assumed status or perhaps a satirical commentary on societal hierarchies. The pheasant’s panicked state highlights the vulnerability of those who might be preyed upon by such deceptive figures.
The mices formal dress and fearful posture add another layer to this narrative, implying that even within this seemingly civilized environment, anxieties about power and predation persist. Their attire suggests a forced participation in a social structure dictated by the fox’s presence. The overall effect is one of unsettling humor and subtle critique, questioning established roles and hinting at an underlying tension between appearance and reality.