La Chasse aux Canards 1605 - 1650

Jean Morin etched "La Chasse aux Canards" in the 17th century, a scene brimming with the age-old motif of the hunt. Here, men pursue ducks in a landscape mirroring a timeless interplay between humanity and nature. Hunting, as a symbol, extends far beyond the pursuit of game; it embodies themes of survival, dominance, and the negotiation of boundaries between the civilized and the wild. Consider the Roman Diana, goddess of the hunt, whose image resonates with both fierce independence and a deep connection to the natural world. In Morin's etching, this primal narrative is subtly echoed. The hunters, poised with their weapons, engage in a ritual as old as civilization itself. The image invokes a primal state of man's relationship with his environment. The hunt resurfaces through art history, each time colored by the concerns and perspectives of its era. It is a recurring dream, reflecting our enduring fascination with control, freedom, and the delicate balance between ourselves and the world we inhabit.