Caught n.d.

Horace Vernet created this print titled "Caught" using etching. Vernet lived through a period of significant political and social upheaval in France, from the French Revolution to the rise and fall of Napoleon. As the official portraitist for the French July Monarchy and Napoleon III, Vernet’s art was often used to legitimize power. This piece, however, steps away from grand state portraiture and aligns with the growing popularity of landscape and genre scenes. What we see is a man on horseback, equipped with a rifle, accompanied by hunting dogs. In the background, two figures by a fence post seem to be engaged in a conversation. Vernet's image is about class, privilege, and the performance of masculinity. Consider the subtle ways that Vernet encourages us to take pleasure in the leisure activities of the upper class. At the same time, the title "Caught" hints at the moral dimensions of these activities.