Jachtgezelschap, vermoedelijk in Midden-Frankrijk 1899

This is a vintage photograph titled 'Jachtgezelschap, vermoedelijk in Midden-Frankrijk’ by Delizy, and it resides in the Rijksmuseum. The image depicts a hunting party, presumably in rural France, posing with their rifles outside a modest building. The photograph provides a glimpse into the social customs and gender roles of the time. On the one hand, you have a hunting group made of men, armed and ready to dominate the natural world. The woman standing at the door, seemingly confined to the domestic space, offers a stark contrast. It is as if she exists on another plane, separate from the masculine sphere of hunting and adventure. Delizy's photograph captures a moment of social staging, revealing the complex negotiations of power, gender, and class. The image invites us to reflect on the historical context of hunting as a privileged activity and how it intersects with the representation of women in the public sphere.