Rabbit Hunt with Dogs 1582

Editor: Here we see a print called "Rabbit Hunt with Dogs" by the Workshop of Philips Galle. It shows figures on horseback and dogs pursuing rabbits through a landscape. What social role did hunting images like this play at the time? Curator: These hunting scenes were not mere depictions of sport. They served as powerful visual statements about social status, aristocratic privilege, and the control of land and resources. Who do you think this artwork was made for? Editor: Probably for the wealthy elite, maybe even royalty, to reinforce their position. Curator: Exactly. The very act of depicting the hunt, with its participants and setting, reinforced the existing social hierarchy and legitimized their power. Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn't considered the political implications of something as seemingly simple as a hunting scene.