Reliëf met jachttrofeeën c. 1870

Dirk de Goede de Koning crafted this relief sculpture of hunting trophies from wood, though the exact date remains unknown. The arrangement of dead game, fish, and a lobster, all expertly carved, speaks to a particular kind of Dutch cultural identity. Trophy pieces like this celebrated the bounty of nature and human skill in acquiring it, reflecting a society deeply connected to both land and sea. Made during a time of significant social change, the image, with its inherent display of wealth and status, evokes questions about social class and the distribution of resources. It's hard to say whether this piece consciously critiques or reinforces those hierarchies, but either way, it reflects the social structures of its time. To better understand pieces like this, we historians can delve into period literature, market records, and hunting practices. This helps us contextualize the artwork and realize that the meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional context.