Ein Jäger mit Gewehr und Pelzmütze 

Editor: This watercolor drawing, “Ein Jäger mit Gewehr und Pelzmütze,” which translates to "A Hunter with Rifle and Fur Hat", by Hendrick Avercamp at the Städel Museum, has such a nonchalant feeling to it. He just *exists* on the paper. What do you see in it? Curator: Notice how Avercamp contrasts the clear outline of the hunter with the sketchier rendering of the face floating above him. Consider the cultural context of hunting at that time. Editor: Well, to me, the hunter seems very grounded and practical. A face without a body, up above, may mean there's something otherworldly to consider here. Curator: Perhaps, or think of it more directly. This isn't a depiction of nobility in pursuit of leisure. How might the rifle and fur hat, essential tools for survival in a harsh environment, represent a societal role or identity? Think about clothing’s potential symbolic value, from an individual’s status to wider affiliations. Editor: Ah, it becomes about the labor then? The clothing immediately says that this is someone surviving within specific practical demands, more about how he lives, and not just *who* he is? Curator: Exactly. Clothing as character. Objects bearing meaning beyond their function, defining the self, both visually and conceptually. And it bears reminding to consider the status of the Hunter within baroque art. What might that be? Editor: This makes me consider clothing and everyday objects more closely, considering the messages embedded in even seemingly mundane items. I will certainly reconsider how I look at people from paintings now! Curator: I'm also keen to reflect on what the original viewers might have observed about social hierarchy from clothing. The painting provides insights beyond its surface depiction.