Staande jager met twee dode hazen 1668 - 1719

Pieter Bout’s drawing, made with pen in brown ink, shows a standing hunter with two dead hares. The figure dominates the composition through its scale and placement. Note how the artist used line to create the form of the hunter and the textures of his clothing, with quick, repetitive strokes suggesting volume and depth. Bout’s masterful use of line and shadow creates a sense of movement and dynamism, even though the subject is standing still. The formal structure here reflects a broader cultural interest in hunting as a symbol of status and control over nature. Yet, the lifeless hares introduce a counter-narrative, subtly destabilizing any straightforward reading of dominance. The drawing invites reflection on how we perceive our relationship with the natural world. The careful arrangement of the elements and the use of a singular color palette add to the artwork's complex interplay between life and death, power, and vulnerability.