Jachtgezelschap bij een fontein c. 1733 - 1762

Jean Moyreau created this print of a hunting party at a fountain to be displayed at the Rijksmuseum. It offers a window into the leisure activities of the French aristocracy. This scene, produced in France, depicts an aristocratic hunting party. It shows the cultural importance of hunting as a pastime and a marker of social status. Note the contrast between the refined figures on horseback and the more humble individuals attending to the dogs and provisions. The detailed architectural backdrop of the fountain and distant estate speaks to the economic disparities of the time, and perhaps the social distance between those enjoying the hunt and those who served them. To truly understand this piece, one must explore the patronage systems that supported such art, as well as the social norms that dictated leisure activities. Such research might include looking at aristocratic archives, estate records, and the history of the Royal print collections. Only then can we appreciate the social context that shaped this artwork.