Stag and doe running towards the right, two dogs behind them to left, from 'Hunts of various animals' (Chasses à différents animaux) 1651 - 1657

"Stag and doe running towards the right, two dogs behind them to left," is an undated etching by Stefano della Bella, part of his series 'Hunts of various animals.' During the 17th century, hunting imagery was more than just sport; it was a symbol of power and aristocratic identity. Della Bella, working for the Medici court in Florence and later in Paris, captured these scenes with a flair that both celebrated and subtly critiqued the social hierarchy. Consider, if you will, the stag, a symbol of nobility, fleeing—an inversion of the expected power dynamic. The dogs, representing the relentless pursuit of the elite, add a layer of tension. How might this reflect the artist's own position, creating art for the very class engaged in these hunts? It makes you wonder about the emotional life of the hunted, and whether this image invites us to question the cost of privilege and power.