Walruses

Walruses live in large herds in the cold seas of the northern hemisphere and feed mainly on mussels and snails. Because of their tusks, which provide first-class ivory, the animals were almost extinct by the 19th century. Although populations have recovered today, walruses are still considered endangered. It is quite possible that Fritz was inspired by the red-brown color of the canvas for the motif. It largely corresponds to the fur color of walruses, so that the animals’ bodies were painted almost exclusively as light highlights and dark folds.