Hunter 1907

Niko Pirosmani’s ‘Hunter’ was painted in Georgia, likely in the early 20th century, using oil on oilcloth. It depicts a hunter in a dark forest, aiming at a large deer. Pirosmani’s work often reflects the social realities of his time and place. Georgia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was a society undergoing significant transformation, with urbanization and industrialization impacting traditional ways of life. The image of the hunter is a loaded one. Was Pirosmani, through his 'naïve' style, critiquing the incursion of modernity? The nobility had traditionally been the only people allowed to hunt, what does it mean that the hunter in this image is more of a common man? Understanding Pirosmani requires a careful examination of Georgian history, including its economic shifts, its artistic traditions, and its complex relationship with Russia and other neighboring cultures. Considering the context, we start to see the image not just as a simple scene, but as a commentary on the social structures of its time.