Konijnenjacht 1582 - 1633

Philips Galle created this engraving titled 'Konijnenjacht,' or 'Rabbit Hunt,' likely in the late 16th century in the Netherlands, a period marked by the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. The print depicts a landscape teeming with hunters and rabbits. Galle’s choice to represent this hunt speaks to the complex relationship between humans and nature, a theme that often reflects social hierarchies and power dynamics. Hunting, historically reserved for the elite, symbolized control over the natural world and reinforced class distinctions. Here we see different people doing the hunting, while the rabbits represent a kind of nature that is both abundant and vulnerable. Consider how the act of hunting mirrors the political climate of the time, where control and dominance were central to the struggle for independence. The emotional resonance of the hunt, with its blend of pursuit and vulnerability, remains relevant today. The print invites us to reflect on our own place in the natural order, and what it means to exert control over other living beings.