Women Hunting the Fox c. 1650

silk, textile, wool

abstract painting

water colours

silk

textile

wool

possibly oil pastel

handmade artwork painting

oil painting

underpainting

painting painterly

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

watercolor

"Women Hunting the Fox" is a large tapestry woven in the mid-17th century, likely in Flanders. The tapestry depicts a group of women engaged in a fox hunt in a lush forest setting. The detailed imagery captures the excitement of the chase, with dogs pursuing the fox and the women following on horseback and foot. The intricate design and vibrant colors showcase the skilled craftsmanship of the anonymous artist and highlight the popularity of hunting scenes in European art during this period. Currently housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, this tapestry offers a glimpse into the world of aristocratic leisure and the enduring fascination with the natural world.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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In the foreground, a huntsman—a professional director of hounds—commands dogs in the distance with blasts from his horn. Farther afield, a female rider balances her spear while training her gaze on the fox to her right. The declining deer population at the time had forced hunters to seek alternative game such as foxes and other “pests.” By the late 1700s fox hunting had become a faster, riskier, and very popular sport. Many women were edged out, whether from concern for their well-being or for fear they might outpace their male companions. Women hunters in some regions felt strong social pressure to ride sidesaddle or in carriages—“ladylike” indeed but not permitting the speed of riding astride. The hunter in this scene rides astride.