Shooting: Plate III 1770

Curator: William Woollett's print, "Shooting: Plate III," presents a scene of rural life, capturing figures engaged in a hunt. Editor: My first impression is one of serene violence. The soft light and pastoral setting clash with the act of shooting; it's a weirdly pretty moment of destruction. Curator: Indeed. Prints like these gained popularity in the 18th century because they catered to the gentry's interests, celebrating both leisure and land ownership. It's about constructing a particular image of English identity. Editor: I see that, but to me, it’s also about the artistry in capturing motion—the dogs in pursuit, the puff of smoke. It elevates a simple pastime to something almost theatrical. Curator: But that very theatricality masks the socio-economic realities of the time. It omits the labor that made such leisure possible, and it reinforces the hierarchies of the era. Editor: I think it speaks to the dualities we often find ourselves in: finding beauty in something destructive, or romanticizing a way of life that had its ugly parts. Curator: Ultimately, it prompts us to think critically about whose stories are being told and how. Editor: And to appreciate the skill involved in such a detailed print, even as we question its message.