Jacht op een beer en herten 1565 - 1630

Antonio Tempesta created this print, "Hunt for a Bear and Deer", sometime between 1570 and 1630. During this time the spectacle of the hunt symbolized power and nobility. It was a staged performance where the hierarchy of human society played out. Here, Tempesta visualizes the thrill of the chase, but we might also consider the position of the animals within this drama. The bear, deer, and dogs are reduced to mere players, their bodies rendered as objects of human sport. Look closely, and you may notice the tension between the natural world and the display of aristocratic dominance. There’s a raw, visceral energy in this print – the clash of bodies, the frenzy of the hunt. It provokes questions about our relationship to the natural world and the ethics of such displays. It asks us to think about the cost of entertainment.