"La Chasse au Sanglier" 1780 - 1790

"La Chasse au Sanglier" is a textile possibly made in the late 18th or early 19th century by Lafosse, Lionnet et Médard. The scene depicted here is the exclusive domain of the aristocracy, the 'sport' of hunting. Hunting has long been associated with power and masculinity, and this image certainly upholds that tradition, doesn't it? Yet, it also presents an intricate dance of class and privilege. Think about who is doing the hunting, and who is serving. In this imagined vision of leisure, we might ask, whose labor and lives are rendered invisible so that others can pursue pleasure? The textile uses detailed monochrome to tell its story, but through it, we can observe a romanticized depiction of social hierarchy, and the complex relationships between humans and animals, power and subjugation.