Design for the Frontspiece of The British Sportsman 1807 - 1817

Samuel Howitt made this frontispiece design for ‘The British Sportsman’ using pen and gray ink with gray wash. Howitt’s use of ink and wash is interesting here. It’s a traditional technique, often associated with preparatory sketches, but it perfectly captures the subject matter: dead game after a hunt. Notice the lifeless weight of the animals, the contrast between the dark washes and the stark paper giving a sense of volume and texture to the fur. But there’s also something unsettling about the scene, isn’t there? The careful rendering of the dead animals, the almost decorative arrangement. It speaks to the culture of hunting in 18th century Britain, a sport enjoyed by the landed gentry. The finished book would have likely been a luxury object, enjoyed by those same wealthy patrons, a celebration of their leisure and dominance over nature. Considering the materials and the making of this image alongside its social context invites us to question the values it represents, blurring the lines between artistic skill and the realities of class and consumption.