Hert met bijzonder gewei 1741

Johann Ridinger made this print, "Hert met bijzonder gewei" or "Stag with unusual antlers", most likely in Germany, though Ridinger worked across Europe in the 18th century. The print depicts a stag standing in a stream, surrounded by rocks and trees. Hunting scenes were popular in aristocratic circles, particularly in Germany, as they evoke a sense of power and dominance over nature. The print celebrates the ‘unusual’ antlers of this stag. At the time, the possession of such animals would have been something of a status symbol. Ridinger's print reflects the social and economic structures of his time, where the aristocracy held considerable power and influence. Prints such as this were displayed in homes and hunting lodges, reinforcing the values of the elite. To learn more about the social history of art, explore archives and collections of prints and drawings at institutions such as the Rijksmuseum.