Stier aangevallen door drie jachthonden c. 1657 - 1677

Marcus de Bye created this etching called 'Bull Attacked by Three Hunting Dogs' sometime in the 17th century after a design by Potter. It depicts a dramatic and violent scene, reflective of a society grappling with its relationship to the natural world. The image suggests a world where human dominance over animals is asserted through hunting. Yet, the bull, massive and powerful, embodies a certain untamed spirit, struggling against the constraints imposed upon it. The hunting dogs, acting as agents of human will, create a dynamic of power, control, and resistance. How might we think of the bull as a symbol for those resisting oppression? In a society where class distinctions were stark, hunting was often associated with the aristocracy, marking their privileged status. Consider how the emotional intensity of the scene, the bull's struggle, resonates with themes of freedom, captivity, and the inherent violence in the pursuit of mastery. This etching might serve as a potent reminder of the complex dynamics of power and the struggle for autonomy that persist across different social strata.