Venus and Adonis (?) with the Duck Hunt c. 1600

This tapestry at the Art Institute of Chicago is thought to be a 16th century depiction of Venus and Adonis during the duck hunt, created by Jacques Geubels I. The tapestry presents a densely woven landscape, its verdant hues creating a rich, textural field. Note how the composition is structured with a symmetrical border framing a central scene. Within this, the figures of Venus and Adonis stand amidst a forest teeming with flora and fauna. Geubels employs a variety of weaving techniques to create depth and texture. The foreground is densely packed with detail, while the background recedes into a softly rendered panorama. This juxtaposition invites us to consider how our perception of space is constructed through variations in texture and clarity. Ultimately, this tapestry, with its intricate detailing and balanced composition, represents the complex relationship between the natural world and human artifice. It serves as a reminder that art is always a constructed reality, a site where meaning is negotiated through form and material.