Konijnenjacht c. 1630

Bartholomeus van Lochom made this print, Konijnenjacht, meaning Rabbit Hunt, at an unknown date, using etching. In the Netherlands, during the 17th century, hunting became a popular pastime for the elite, often depicted in art as a symbol of status and wealth. Note here how, while the hunt is underway, the rabbits are confined by a perimeter net; they have no chance. As such, this tiny image functions as a social commentary on the unequal distribution of power and wealth. The controlled hunt mirrors the structured social hierarchy, where the elite maintain their dominance over others. To fully understand such images, historians delve into period sources: hunting manuals, estate records, and sumptuary laws – all shedding light on the social rituals and hierarchies embedded within such leisure activities. This print reminds us that art is always enmeshed in a web of social and institutional practices.