Jacht op luipaarden met spiegels 1594 - 1598

This print, "Hunting Leopards with Mirrors," was made by Jan Collaert the Younger, around the turn of the 17th century. It's an engraving, a process that demands careful labor, cutting lines into a metal plate. Ink is then pressed into these grooves, and the image transferred to paper. Collaert has meticulously captured a leopard hunt, where hunters use mirrors to lure the animals into traps. The crisp lines of the engraving highlight the textures of fur, rock, and foliage, showcasing the artist's skill and the capabilities of the medium. But the print’s precise lines also point to something beyond artistry. Consider the context: prints like these were luxury goods, often bound into books for wealthy patrons. The scene itself, a staged hunt, speaks to the status of both the hunters and the hunted. The labor-intensive process of engraving, multiplied across many impressions, was a business. By understanding the print's materiality and social context, we recognize it’s not just art, but a document of its time, reflecting the values and economics of early modern Europe.