En harejagt 1704 - 1765

Johann Salomon Wahl created this painting, "En harejagt," depicting a hare hunt, using oil on canvas. The scene is dominated by the figures of men on horseback and on foot, accompanied by hunting dogs, engaged in the pursuit of hares. Hunting, from ancient times, has been a symbolic activity, often associated with aristocracy, power, and the taming of nature. Think back to the ancient Egyptian pharaohs depicted hunting lions, or the mythological figure of Diana, the goddess of the hunt. The gesture of pointing, seen in the central figure on horseback, recurs throughout art history. The emotional and psychological weight of this image lies in its depiction of human control over nature and the primal instinct to hunt. This motif has been a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level since the Stone Age cave paintings to modern works. The image’s non-linear, cyclical progression is now evident; it has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.