Plate with a scene from Métamorphoses du Jour (plate 3) 1825 - 1845

This plate, part of a series by the artist Creil, presents a scene titled "Le Lièvre pris au gîte" from *Métamorphoses du Jour*. At its center, we find a domestic drama, a chaotic hunt rendered with anthropomorphic animals. Surrounding this scene is a decorative border teeming with motifs—hunting horns, game birds, and various implements of the chase—symbols of human's dominion over nature. Consider the figure of the hare, caught in the act. Since ancient times, the hare has been a symbol of fertility, timidity, and vulnerability, reappearing in diverse contexts from ancient Egyptian art to medieval bestiaries. This plate offers a twisted rendition of a classic hunting scene. Here, the hare is dressed in human clothing, and we are confronted with the animal’s humiliation. The scene evokes a complex interplay of power, disguise, and reversal. These images tap into our collective memory, resurfacing time and again in new guises, reflecting our evolving relationship with nature.