Zwijnenjacht 1861 - 1889

William Unger created this etching, "Zwijnenjacht," capturing a wild boar hunt. Notice the frenzied energy as dogs pursue their prey through the forest. Hunting scenes have ancient roots, symbolizing man's dominance over nature. Consider the Roman boar hunt mosaics: dynamic compositions and dramatic portrayals of conflict. Here, too, Unger conveys a sense of struggle, but with a 19th-century sensibility. The dogs, embodying loyalty and instinct, are central. The boar, traditionally a symbol of courage and ferocity, faces its demise. But this is no simple depiction of a hunt. It is a ritualistic dance, echoing primal instincts embedded in our collective memory. We are reminded of our own mortality through the chaos of this chase, stirring deep, subconscious fears and anxieties. This symbol of the hunt is a motif that continues to resurface, constantly shaped by the cultural and psychological currents of its time.