Hier toonen jagers met hun honden; / hoe 't wild betrapt wordt en gevonden, / Ook hoe men vischt met snoer en net; / 't is tot uw vreugd hier neêrgezet 1827 - 1894

M. Hemeleers-van Houter created this print around 1880 using an etching technique. It depicts hunting and fishing scenes, reflecting the social and cultural values of the time. Looking at this Dutch print, we can see how hunting and fishing were not merely pastimes, but integral parts of the social fabric. Visual codes indicate a clear hierarchy, with hunters often dressed in distinct attire, possibly alluding to class distinctions within the Dutch society of that era. Consider the historical context: the Netherlands in the late 19th century was a society grappling with industrialization and urbanization, and these images might evoke a longing for a more agrarian past, or function as a kind of entertainment. The Rijksmuseum, as an institution, plays a role in preserving and presenting these cultural artifacts, shaping our understanding of history. To truly understand this artwork, we can delve into archives, historical texts, and studies of Dutch social history. Art gains deeper meaning when we recognize its contingency on social and institutional contexts.