Pheasant-shooting c. 18th century

Editor: This is Samuel Howitt's "Pheasant-shooting," and it's a rather busy scene with a hunter, dogs, and dense foliage. What stands out to you about this work? Curator: It's interesting to consider the social context of hunting and land ownership implied here. Howitt's print speaks to the material conditions that enabled such leisure activities. Who had access to land and resources for this kind of recreation? Editor: So, it's less about the act of hunting itself and more about the economic structure that makes it possible? Curator: Precisely. The very tools, clothing, and land access highlight a specific social class and the means of production that support their lifestyle. It’s about the larger system of wealth and labor. I wonder, how does this artwork reflect the consumption habits of the time? Editor: I hadn't considered it that way, but now I see it's a window into a specific, privileged world.