Rustende jagers 1818 - 1871

This is a print called ‘Resting Hunters’ by Isaac Cornelis Elink Sterk. We don't know exactly when it was made, but Sterk lived from 1808 to 1871. Prints like this were popular in the 19th century for circulating images and ideas. This one depicts a hunting party taking a break in nature, likely intended for a middle-class audience. But it is the relationship between man, animal and the landscape that I find interesting here. There’s a tension between the idea of leisure and the reality of hunting, which involves asserting power over the natural world. The image evokes both a sense of freedom and a subtle unease, making us question what is gained and what is lost when we engage with nature in this way.