Huntsmen with Hounds and a Crouching Hare [recto] 

James Seymour sketched "Huntsmen with Hounds and a Crouching Hare" with graphite in the 18th century. Seymour was known for his sporting and equestrian subjects, and his work offers insights into the values of the British aristocracy of his time. This work depicts a hunt, a popular aristocratic pastime. Here we see a group of men on horseback with their hounds, in pursuit of a hare. The artist emphasizes their control over the natural world. What do we make of the crouching hare, which embodies vulnerability? Consider how the sketch reflects the hierarchical social structures of 18th-century Britain, where land ownership and hunting rights were symbols of power and privilege. The sketch might remind us of how cultural practices are intertwined with issues of class, gender, and human relations with the natural world. It is a glimpse into a world where dominance and leisure were enjoyed by a select few, at the expense of many others.