Dead Game 1687 - 1737

Johann Georg de Hamilton made this painting, "Dead Game," sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries using oil on canvas. The subject matter here is far from radical, as hunting scenes and still lifes were common among the European aristocracy. Hamilton has paid meticulous attention to the texture and form of the dead animals. The soft fur of the hare contrasts with the stiff feathers of the birds, each rendered with precision, down to the glint in their lifeless eyes. This work's material qualities are essential. Oil paint allowed Hamilton to capture the minute details of texture and color, creating a palpable sense of depth. The act of hunting, as depicted here, was laden with social significance, signaling wealth, power, and leisure. Hamilton transformed these everyday materials into a lasting testament to aristocratic life. This work urges us to consider the wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption inherent to its production.