Bear Catching 17th-18th century

Editor: Here we have Johann Elias Ridinger's "Bear Catching." I’m struck by the density of the forest and how it seems to swallow the hunters. What elements stand out to you? Curator: Note the labor invested in the engraving process, the physical act of carving those lines. Consider the relationship between humans and the natural world being depicted. It is about consumption and control, the artist's labor mirroring that of the hunt. Editor: So, the act of creating the artwork mirrors the subject matter? Curator: Precisely. The print becomes a commodity, a symbol of dominance over both the animal and the artistic process. What do you make of that connection? Editor: That the value of art lies not only in its aesthetic quality, but also in the labor and materials that go into its creation. Fascinating.