Standing Stag c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have Antonio Tempesta's "Standing Stag," an etching. It has a kind of vulnerable, almost tragic mood to me. What do you see in it? Curator: It's compelling how Tempesta situates this stag. Consider the historical context: the stag, often a symbol of nobility and the hunt, is presented here in a stark, unglamorous light. Does this critique the power structures of the time? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, but it does feel less celebratory and more...exposed? Curator: Exactly! And think about the environmental impact of hunting practices. The stag alone on a sparse landscape – is it a comment on ecological imbalance? Editor: So, beyond just being a portrait of an animal, it's also engaging with questions of power and the environment. Curator: Precisely. It encourages us to examine our relationship with nature and with each other. It makes me wonder what other symbolic references might be present. Editor: I'll never look at a stag the same way again! Curator: Nor will I, it is truly fascinating.