If the Hunter has Cold Hands... the hare doesn't have cold feet, plate 22 from Émotions De Chasse 1858

This lithograph, made by Honoré Daumier, presents us with a seemingly simple scene: a hunter, a hare, and a beater in the background. Yet, the hare, darting across the snowy landscape, carries a symbolic weight far beyond its immediate presence. In ancient lore, the hare is a symbol of fertility, cunning, and the cyclical nature of life. But look closer, and you might recall the medieval bestiaries, where the hare also embodies timidity and vulnerability. Consider how this motif recurs through art history, from the delicate hares of Albrecht Dürer to its presence as prey in countless hunting scenes. Each instance echoes and reshapes the previous, evolving in meaning. Here, the hare's frantic escape taps into our primal understanding of survival, engaging us on a deep, subconscious level. The hare is a symbol that transcends time, and continues to resurface and evolve.