Pheasant and Hunter 1825 - 1877

Charles B. Newhouse created this watercolor titled "Pheasant and Hunter", which you can find here at the Art Institute of Chicago. The image suggests themes around class, social change, and the relationship between humans and the natural world. Consider the cultural context. Hunting, especially of game birds like pheasants, was a popular pastime among the upper classes in 19th-century Britain and America. Sporting imagery like this speaks to status and leisure. Does the painting celebrate or critique this activity? The hunter seems secondary to the pheasant, perhaps questioning traditional social hierarchies. To understand this piece, we might explore sporting prints, social histories of hunting, and even ornithological studies. Understanding art requires us to look beyond its surface, delving into the social and institutional forces that shape both its creation and reception.