Stilleven van wild 1650 - 1719

Jan Weenix created this still life of game using pen in brown and gray, with watercolor, around the 17th century. At first glance, we observe an abundance of animal carcasses, symbols of power, wealth, and perhaps dominance over nature. The prominent display of dead animals like the swan and deer is a recurring motif in Northern European art, a testament to the spoils of the hunt. The motif of the hunt, or the "spoils of the hunt" harkens back to classical antiquity. The Greeks and Romans often depicted scenes of the hunt, associating it with heroism and prowess. But consider, if you will, the transformation of Diana, goddess of the hunt, into Actaeon, condemned to be hunted himself by his own hounds. The act of hunting and the display of game is a cyclical narrative. The hunter becomes the hunted, life intertwined with death, and the image itself becomes a powerful reminder of our own mortality. These images persist, echoing through time, continuously reimagined, and forever engaging with our deepest fears and desires.