Hazenjacht 1819 - 1881

Johannes Tavenraat made this print called 'Hazenjacht' – or Hare Hunt – using etching. The scene speaks to a set of social relations around land ownership and hunting rights in the Netherlands. We can ask, who has the right to hunt? Are these professional hunters, or is this a more aristocratic pursuit? In the 19th century Netherlands, hunting was increasingly regulated, impacting who could access this pastime. This image may therefore relate to changing attitudes to the land and its uses. The print provides an aesthetic view of nature which nonetheless acknowledges contemporary social debates. To fully understand the implications of this artwork, we can turn to archives, newspapers, and other documents to research hunting laws, class structures, and changing ideas about land use. The social history of art requires us to look beyond aesthetics, towards the conditions in which art is made and consumed.