Men on Horseback and Dogs Hunting Wolves c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have Antonio Tempesta’s “Men on Horseback and Dogs Hunting Wolves.” Tempesta, born in 1555, was celebrated for his dynamic battle scenes and hunting scenes like this one. Editor: It’s a frenzied scene, isn't it? All sharp lines and frantic energy. You can almost hear the baying of the dogs and the terrified snarls of the wolves. Curator: Absolutely. What I find fascinating is how these hunting scenes reflect the socio-political structures of the time. Hunting was often a privilege of the aristocracy. Editor: And look at the material realities—the etched lines creating texture. The labor involved in making these prints, the dissemination of these images, a far cry from the experiences of those actually doing the hunting! Curator: Precisely, and the act of hunting itself, of course, has a material impact on the landscape and animal populations. It’s a complex interplay of nature, labor, and power. Editor: It really gives you a lot to think about when considering how we consume images then, and even now. Curator: Indeed, it does.