Rust tijdens de jacht c. 1620

Ercole Bazicaluva made this etching, ‘Rest During the Hunt,’ sometime in the first half of the 17th century. It captures a moment of leisure, but it also gives us insight into the era’s complex social dynamics. Made in Italy, a region characterized by aristocratic patronage, the print depicts a hunting party at rest. Note the distinctive clothing of the figures, which denote social class. One figure is made to perform for the group. This image prompts us to consider the power dynamics inherent in these social gatherings. Who is allowed to rest, and who is made to perform? To understand this work, we must consider the social conditions that shaped artistic production in 17th-century Italy, in particular the system of aristocratic patronage. Historical documents from the period, such as letters and estate records, can shed light on the lives of both the patrons and the artists who depended on them.