Jachttrofeeën 1772 - 1779

Curator: Today, we are looking at "Jachttrofeeën" or "Hunting Trophies," an engraving dating from 1772-1779, created by Pierre Gabriel Berthault and currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Immediately striking! The stark black and white arrangements—a collage of nature and, well, conquest—exude a really macabre sensibility despite the decorative, baroque flair. Like capturing fleeting beauty, only to display it as ornamentation. Curator: The composition presents a structured set of vignettes, meticulously rendered through engraving. Observe the contrast between the sharp lines of the weaponry and the softer textures of the flora and fauna. The formal arrangement across the page underscores a controlled, decorative aesthetic. Editor: Right, I see it too, but the composition of the death scenes feel a little chaotic to me even though arranged so systematically on the page. What does it say, for example, to bind the instruments of hunting with symbolic objects of hunting like nets and gamebags? Is the intention of this "arrangement" simply to domesticate death itself? Curator: Indeed, this image seems preoccupied with codifying a very elite pursuit. Look at the objects portrayed: horns, hunting rifles, a deer’s head. The engraving immortalizes specific tools associated with hunting, framing it less as survival, and more as ritualized theater. This attention to detail positions the hunter not only as powerful but as cultured. Editor: But maybe we're focusing too heavily on that! The engraving gives as much space and attention to nature, with its branches and leaves and flowers as it does the trophies themselves. Can't this piece be about humanity's interconnectedness with animals and the outdoors, even as we attempt to dominate them? There is also a really elegant design element, don't you think? Curator: I agree. I will also add, however, that its Baroque sensibilities render everything decorative to emphasize control and dominance—especially over the natural world. Editor: In any case, a provocative work indeed! Food for thought... or maybe, food *for looking*! Curator: A worthwhile reflection to bring forward, yes. Let's move to our next stop.