The Meet (Picture) c. 19th century

This is an undated silk weaving called The Meet, made by Thomas Stevens, a nineteenth-century English weaver and manufacturer. Stevens's "Stevengraphs" were popular as affordable, mass-produced art, often depicting scenes of British life. The Meet captures a fox hunt, a popular pastime among the British upper class. Notice the riders in their formal attire, the pack of hounds, and the serene landscape. But beyond the picturesque scene lies a complex social tableau. Fox hunting was not just a sport; it was a symbol of wealth, power, and social status. Think about who gets to participate, and who is excluded. While the riders enjoy their leisure, the labor and resources required to maintain this lifestyle are often invisible. Stevens's work invites us to consider the intersection of class, leisure, and the production of art in Victorian England, and prompts us to reflect on the ways in which seemingly innocuous images can reflect broader social inequalities.