Woodcock Hunt with Snare and Net 1582

Curator: This drawing is titled "Woodcock Hunt with Snare and Net" by Hans Bol, though it is undated, the artist was active in the 16th century. Editor: It's captivating, yet unsettling. The sepia tones evoke a sense of nostalgia, but the scene itself—the trapped birds—feels a little cruel. Curator: Hunting scenes were quite popular, reflecting a society deeply connected to the land and its resources, especially as depicted by artists like Bol. Editor: It makes me think about human intervention in natural ecosystems. Bol's work reminds us of the ethical questions about our relationship with nature. Curator: Bol’s landscapes often showed the agricultural cycle and the seasons; however, his work was displayed in private collections for the privileged elites. Editor: So, even then, the imagery was mediated by power? Perhaps these idyllic scenes romanticize a relationship with nature that glosses over realities of class and survival. Curator: Indeed. Considering its display in the Harvard Art Museums today, it opens avenues to discuss our evolving understanding of land ownership and natural resources. Editor: Absolutely. Seeing it now invites critical reflection on how we’ve inherited these systems of power and how we might transform them.