Jacht op beren 1599

Antonio Tempesta created this print called 'Jacht op beren', or 'Bear Hunt' sometime between 1570 and 1630. Tempesta, working in Italy, lived in a time where the spectacle of the hunt was very popular amongst the aristocratic class. Here, in an almost cinematic fashion, he’s staging the thrill of the hunt. You can see it in the diagonal lines and the frenzy of the dogs and horses. This work offers us insight into the values and power dynamics of the time. It presents an image of man's dominion over nature. But I also think this print shows the ambivalent relationship between humans and animals. The bears are not just a resource or a danger, but also creatures with their own lives and struggles. And even in this violent scene, you can sense a kind of respect or awe for the animal's power and beauty.