Fox Hunt c. 1865

This is W. H. Temple's "Fox Hunt," an etching now held at the Art Institute of Chicago, and it depicts a scene brimming with symbolic action. A rider on horseback leaps over a fence, leading a pack of hounds in pursuit of a fox. This chase is an ancient motif. The hunt, deeply rooted in human history, signifies not only sustenance and survival but also the thrill of the chase, the testing of skill, and the assertion of dominance. Echoes of this can be seen in ancient Greek depictions of the Calydonian Boar Hunt, where heroes like Atalanta and Meleager tested their mettle against a fearsome beast. The fox, in turn, often represents cunning and elusiveness. Yet, in some contexts, it also embodies nature's wisdom. The fox's role shifts from prey to a symbol of resilience, resurfacing time and again in folklore and art, constantly negotiating its place within the human psyche.