Harriers c. 18th century

Curator: Looking at Samuel Howitt's "Harriers," I’m struck by how it encapsulates 18th-century English sporting culture and its inherent class dynamics. Editor: It's a very lively image! Immediately, I feel this playful energy from the dogs. A real sense of movement, excitement. Curator: The image reflects the social and economic realities of the time, where hunting was a pastime largely reserved for the landed gentry. The print aesthetic also speaks to accessibility of this image; designed to be widely distributed and consumed. Editor: Yes, there's something about the composition – all those dogs seemingly frozen mid-frolic – that feels almost dreamlike. I wonder what it says about our relationship with nature, then and now. Curator: It underlines a very particular view of nature, curated for human pleasure and societal status. Editor: Absolutely! And it makes you wonder what stories these harriers could tell if they could only speak. Curator: A vital question, reframing our understanding of art history.