Gezicht op een berenjacht 1742 - 1801

Georg Balthasar Probst made this print depicting a bear hunt sometime in the late 18th century. During this period, hunting scenes were popular, especially among the aristocracy, but this print seems to be aimed at a broader audience, judging by the multilingual descriptions at the bottom. The image is not just about the thrill of the hunt, but also about power and control. The hunters, dressed in red coats, represent the dominance of humans over nature, specifically, the wildness of the bear. The violence in the hunt raises questions about our relationship with the natural world, and the ways in which we seek to control and subdue it. There's a strange tension in viewing this scene today. On one hand, there is the spectacle of the hunt, and on the other, a discomfort with the display of power over animals. It’s a stark reminder of how our attitudes towards nature and wildlife have changed over time, and how these attitudes reflect our values and beliefs.