The Falcon c. 18th century

Jean-Baptiste-Marie Pierre created "The Falcon," an etching, in France, sometime around the mid-18th century. This was a time when the roles and expectations of men and women were rigidly defined. In "The Falcon," we see a domestic scene where a man is seated at a table, seemingly occupied with the carcass of a bird. A woman stands nearby, her posture and expression suggesting a mix of concern and perhaps, admonishment. Hunting, symbolized by the falcon, had long been a pastime associated with aristocratic masculinity. Here, the man’s preoccupation with the dead bird, contrasted with the woman’s presence, invites us to question traditional gender roles. Is this a commentary on the perceived virtues of men versus the moral compass of women? Is Pierre challenging or upholding the status quo? The setting and the characters' attire place them within a specific social stratum. The dog and cat add an emotional layer to the scene. It subtly prompts us to consider the emotional dynamics at play and reflect on the complex ways in which identity, class, and gender intersect in the narrative of daily life.