Een reebok, in het water staande 1708 - 1767

Editor: This is “Een reebok, in het water staande,” an engraving by Johann Elias Ridinger from the mid-18th century, housed at the Rijksmuseum. The stag has such a commanding presence, amidst this quite busy landscape. How would you interpret this piece? Curator: What strikes me immediately is the relationship between nature and the hunt. It's a baroque image, so we see drama, even theatrics. How does this portrayal of the stag compare to how animals were viewed at the time, specifically regarding hunting practices and their role in courtly life? Editor: I suppose it shows the animal as something noble and almost dignified before the hunt? Not just a target. Curator: Exactly! Think about the development of hunting lodges, specialized weapons, and even specific breeds of dogs. This print elevates the animal, framing the hunt as something requiring respect. There is an inscription…I wonder, what does the writing below tell us about the meaning and how contemporary audiences received this image? Editor: Ah, the text! It looks like it refers to the deer being hunted on November 7th, and being particularly wonderful because of it’s antlers... so, linking it back to an exceptional event connected with hunting rituals? Curator: Precisely! The socio-political forces are at play, influencing how nature and these images, were consumed. Consider too how engravings made images more widely available. Editor: So the image immortalizes not only the stag, but the social rituals surrounding the hunt itself, allowing for the show of power structures. It seems simple on the surface, but it reflects so much! Thank you. Curator: And thank you! It’s fascinating how seemingly simple images like this one can open up a window into a whole world of social and political meanings.