Attacking Bear

About this object

History of use

Contemporary Inuit prints were first produced at Cape Dorset in 1957. Although precursors to printmaking can be seen in women's skin applique work and in men's incising of ivory, stone and bone, the impetus for printmaking was as a commercial venture. This venture was established jointly by Inuit artists and John Houston, the civil administrator for Cape Dorset. Other Inuit communities quickly followed the commercial success of Cape Dorset's West Baffin Eskimo Cooperative. Printmaking developed as a communal activity following a Japanese, rather than a Western, model of serigraph production. Each year the cooperatives produce a series of limited edition prints which are sold in the retail art market. In 1965, the Canadian Eskimo Arts Council was established from the Canadian Eskimo Art Committee to ensure high standards were maintained. Printmaking, along with stone carving, provide cash income for communities which have undergone rapid and significant change, during the late 20th century, from traditional hunting based societies to settled communities dependent on consumer goods. The prevalent images depicted in Inuit art are of traditional life, arctic animals and mythology. Recently, contemporary subjects have been depicted by a minority of artists.

Cultural context

contemporary art

Physical description

Print depicting a polar bear with two arrows in its body beside an igloo with a hole in it through which can be seen part of the face as well as the arms and torso of a hunter holding a bow and arrow that are aimed at the bear. Below the image is written, "Attacking Bear Lithograph 9/50 Dorset Kananginak 1977," and the name of the artist in Inuit syllabics. In the lower right-hand corner are the Canadian Eskimo Arts Council and Cape Dorset Cooperative blind embossed stamps. The pritnmaker's name and the Cape Dorset stylized red igloo seal are printed in the bottom left-hand corner.