Jagers houden vogelvallen in de gaten 1598

Antonio Tempesta made this etching, "Hunters Watching Bird Traps," sometime between 1575 and 1630. It depicts a scene of hunters using nets and cages to capture birds, a common practice in the 16th and 17th centuries. In this period, hunting wasn't only a sport for the aristocracy but also a means of survival and a source of food for the broader population. Depictions of hunting scenes reflected the relationship between humans and nature, and the social and economic activities tied to it. The print media that distributed images such as this one were just beginning to shape popular perceptions of the natural world, and the relationship between country and city. To understand the full scope of this image, we might delve into period manuals on hunting techniques, the economic role of wild birds in the food supply, and the distribution of prints in Northern Europe at the time. With that knowledge, we can begin to understand the complex social meanings embedded in Tempesta's print.