Rustende jagers 1834 - 1876

Carel Christiaan Antony Last created this print called ‘Resting Hunters’ using etching techniques. The initial impression is one of classical repose, yet look closer and you will notice an asymmetrical balance. The composition places three hunters and their dogs amidst rocks and sparse vegetation. Note how Last uses the figures to create visual planes. The reclining hunter draws the eye horizontally across the scene, while the standing figures introduce a vertical counterpoint. This tension between horizontal rest and vertical assertion destabilizes any singular reading. The monochromatic palette encourages us to focus on line and form. Consider the texture achieved through etching – a network of fine lines that construct depth and shadow. The resting dogs are rendered with looser strokes, which brings a sense of movement. This alludes to the broader theme of nature versus culture, wildness versus order, that permeates 19th-century art. The structured yet dynamic print invites us to question what it means to capture a moment of rest, and to reflect on the cultural codes embedded within the act of hunting.