Reproductie naar een foto van Willem Witsen c. 1860 - 1915

This is a reproduction of a photograph by Willem Witsen, created at an unknown date, now held at the Rijksmuseum. The photograph depicts three figures standing in a wooded area, each holding what appear to be dead rabbits or hares. The image evokes questions about the relationship between humans and nature, and about social class. In the Netherlands, as elsewhere in Europe at the time, hunting was often associated with the aristocracy and wealthy landowners, but was increasingly adopted by middle class sportsmen. Looking more closely, we might ask if these figures are participants in a hunt or merely posing with game acquired elsewhere. Are we invited to admire their marksmanship, or to reflect on the ethics of killing animals for sport? To fully understand the photograph's meaning, we would need to research the history of hunting in the Netherlands, the social status of the photographer, and the identities of the figures in the picture. We can then understand the photograph’s significance within its specific social and institutional context.