toad, unknown maker from present-day Italy

Toad. A tailless amphibian with a short stout body and short legs, typically having dry warty skin that can exude poison. That’s the textbook definition, but have you ever looked deeper into what a toad means? To the creator of this sculpture, a toad must have meant something more. This piece was made in Italy during the renaissance era. This time was about an artistic rebirth, part of that being accurately representing nature in art. The back of the toad covered in warts expresses this. The artist didn’t try to hide the unpleasant look of the toad and captured it quite realistically. In that same light, the artist also highlighted the toad’s natural beauty. This is shown in the smooth arms and underbelly of the sculpture. Upon further inspection, you will notice the indifferent look on the toad's face. This expression shows the natural state of the toad, without any altering to make it more appealing to the eye. To me personally, a toad is a little amphibian who brings back happy thoughts. When I was younger my family went to a little park behind our house where toads were common and memories were made. I used to love visiting that spot and I was always delighted to go and check up on the toads. During this uncertain time, happy memories such as these have been keeping me going. I would love to go back and visit that pond but to help slow the spread of COVID-19, I can only go back to this happy place in my mind. Little things that remind me that this is all going to be okay mean the world to me. That’s what a toad means to me, but what does a toad mean to you?