Damhert met spoor 1751

Johann Ridinger made this print, ‘Damhert met spoor,’ using etching and engraving. It pictures a fallow deer in a forest and shows the tracks this deer leaves behind. Prints like this one, made in Germany, were frequently collected in albums and offer us a glimpse into the culture of hunting in the 18th century. Hunting was a privilege of the upper classes, a pursuit loaded with social meaning and rituals. Hunting prints weren't just decorative; they served as both educational tools and status symbols. Ridinger's print combines the aesthetic appeal of wildlife art with the practical knowledge required for hunting. It reflects a world where the natural sciences were gaining ground, but where traditional aristocratic pastimes still held considerable sway. Historians often use prints like these as primary sources, examining them alongside hunting manuals, etiquette guides, and estate records. They help us understand the complex interplay of social class, scientific inquiry, and artistic representation in the 1700s.