Hunters Capturing Geese c. 16th century

Curator: Antonio Tempesta, who lived from 1555 to 1630, created this print, "Hunters Capturing Geese." It's currently part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a rather unsettling feel, like a scene from a fable. The detail is remarkable given its modest scale. Curator: The print captures a hunting technique. Observe the hunters concealing themselves, while the geese are lured by bait, their beaks getting stuck in some kind of trap. It speaks to the relationship between humans and animals in early modern Europe and the strategies employed in hunting. Editor: And the power dynamics inherent in that relationship. We see the geese rendered vulnerable, their natural instincts turned against them. The landscape itself feels complicit, bearing witness to this act of calculated deception. It makes one consider our own relationship with nature and food. Curator: Indeed, prints like this were often part of larger series, intended for a growing public that was interested in both the natural world and the activities of courtly life, hunting in particular, as entertainment. Editor: It really pushes me to consider the ethics of such leisure activities. The print is a visual record of these practices, but it also carries a weight of the imbalances in power. Curator: I agree. Looking at it through this lens really enhances our understanding. Editor: Absolutely. It’s a lot more than just a historical hunting scene.