The Sleeping Hunter c. 18th century

Curator: This is Jean Pelletier's "The Sleeping Hunter," a print held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It strikes me as comical, almost theatrical. The figure slumped over, the grinning onlookers... it feels staged. Curator: Indeed, it reflects a genre scene popular at the time, often satirizing the leisure class. Notice the hunter’s fine clothes, juxtaposed with his inebriated slumber. Editor: And the dog! Loyal, but also a symbol of the hunt, perhaps a commentary on man's relationship with nature and its exploitation. Curator: Precisely! It also speaks to the culture of hunting as a social activity, deeply embedded in class structures and visual representation. Editor: Seeing these layered images, it’s clear how societal critique finds expression through such familiar symbols. Curator: Absolutely, a reminder that art acts as both mirror and commentary on its era.