Runs with the lanarkshire and renfrewshire fox-hounds, and other sporting incidents 1874

Editor: Here we have “Runs with the Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Fox-Hounds, and other sporting incidents” from 1874, printed in Glasgow. The author goes by “Stringhalt.” The book's aged aesthetic sparks curiosity about the social context it emerged from. What aspects of its historical setting do you find most striking? Curator: Well, let's consider the fox hunt. It's not merely a sporting activity, is it? It's intrinsically tied to land ownership, class structure, and power dynamics. Who participated in these hunts, and more importantly, who was excluded? The figure opposite the title page seems well dressed and thus possibly part of this land-owning class, doesn’t he? Editor: So, viewing this book, especially the title page, invites us to question whose stories get told and preserved? Was "Stringhalt" perhaps using this book to subtly critique the societal norms associated with activities like fox hunting? Curator: Exactly. This wasn't just about men and dogs chasing foxes. The fox hunt symbolized the control that privileged landowners held over the natural world and rural communities. The very act of publishing, of memorializing these "sporting incidents," becomes a statement in itself. Does the presence of the man and the absence of other participants challenge our ideas of what the hunt means in practice? Editor: It’s thought-provoking to consider how even something as seemingly straightforward as a book about fox hunting can reflect larger social issues of the time. I’m also struck by how much the design aesthetic of the era contributes to that. Curator: Precisely. By looking at the social narratives intertwined with the aesthetics, we unlock richer interpretations and contextualize these artworks within critical, relevant discussions.