H. Hubertus 1768 - 1769

Editor: Here we have "H. Hubertus", an engraving by Cornelis van Noorde from around 1768 or 1769. It’s got this delicate, almost ornate feel, a hunting scene framed by what looks like hunting trophies. How should we understand this piece? Curator: For me, this engraving screams production! Consider the labour involved in both the hunt itself—the dogs, the horse, the preparation—and then the translation of that scene into a meticulously crafted print. Each line, each dot of ink, represents a deliberate act of production and reproduction for consumption. What was the intention of Van Noorde's material choice? Editor: It's interesting you focus on labor. I suppose I hadn't thought of the material reality *behind* the depicted scene. Curator: Exactly! And it isn't just about the hunting. Look at the elaborate frame within the image, constructed with elements like guns and game. These objects denote status. Think about the audience consuming this print. How would they understand their own social position through it? Editor: So, the print itself is a kind of commodity, reflecting and reinforcing societal structures… I hadn’t considered how literally these trophies reflect consumption. Curator: Precisely. We must analyze not only what is represented but also the material processes that bring it into existence, and what these say about its consumption by specific social classes. The print itself is the culmination of so many raw materials being exploited and then shaped into this image. Editor: I guess it's made me realize there are layers of production involved – the actual hunt and then the process of creating and distributing this image. Curator: Indeed. We need to be attentive to the social and material relations embedded in the artwork itself. Let's rethink the frame here and its relationship to the central theme in order to achieve an enhanced viewing experience. Editor: It’s changed how I’ll look at art in general. Thanks!