Stilleven met gevogelte en een haas before 1898

This photograph, taken by Charles Gaspar, likely in the early 20th century, captures a still life of game – fowl and hare, arranged on what appears to be a stone plinth. While photography might seem far removed from craft traditions, consider the meticulous processes involved. Gaspar would have carefully arranged the dead animals, manipulating their forms and the light to create a specific composition. The monochrome tonality emphasizes texture – the smooth feathers, the soft fur, the cold, hard surface beneath. Consider the social context too. Still life painting, and photography after it, often served as a display of wealth and status, reflecting a culture of hunting and consumption. The photograph, with its emphasis on the materiality of the subject, invites reflection on the labor involved in acquiring and preparing such a feast. It also challenges us to think about the ethics of representation, and the cultural values embedded in what we choose to depict.