Hertenjagers steken een rivier over c. 1733 - 1762

Jean Moyreau created this print, “Deer Hunters Crossing a River,” using etching techniques. Without a specific date, it is useful to consider the historical context of hunting as a symbol of power and aristocracy in European society. Here, the act of hunting transcends mere sport, becoming a staged display of social stratification and control over the natural world. The intersection of class and gender comes into play when examining the relationship between the hunters and the hunted. Are the deer only stand-ins, for the vulnerability and subjugation of marginalized groups? The river crossing itself might represent the literal and metaphorical barriers encountered by those outside the privileged class. By depicting this hunting scene, Moyreau invites us to reflect on the historical roots of inequality and the ways in which the powerful have historically asserted their dominance. The artist also asks us to think about the emotional and psychological dimensions of these power dynamics.