Bird Hunt c. 17th century

Editor: This is Jacques Callot’s "Bird Hunt." It’s a print, and it feels almost cinematic in its scope, depicting this sweeping landscape. What strikes you about this work? Curator: This piece, like much of Callot’s work, invites us to consider power dynamics. Who are these hunters, and what does their pursuit represent? Are they hunting for sport, sustenance, or something else entirely? Editor: That's interesting; I was only thinking about it as a landscape. Curator: And it *is* a landscape, of course. But Callot was working during a time of great social upheaval, and his prints often reflect the anxieties and contradictions of that era. Think about the social and economic disparities inherent in the act of hunting itself. Who has access to the land, to the resources? Editor: So, seeing it as just a hunt sort of misses the point? Curator: Not entirely. But by understanding the social context, we can see how Callot’s seemingly simple scene speaks to larger issues of class, privilege, and the relationship between humans and the environment. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about; thanks!