Wild Bull Hunt 1609 - 1621

Curator: This is Antonio Tempesta's "Wild Bull Hunt." There's no date listed, but Tempesta lived from 1555 to 1630. Look at the incredible detail, the frantic energy. What strikes you first? Editor: Definitely the violence. It feels performative. The hunt, historically, was a privilege, a display of power. Curator: Absolutely. And the positioning of the bull – cornered, vulnerable. It speaks volumes about dominance and control, gender and societal roles. Editor: It makes me think about humanity's relationship with the natural world. Are we celebrating mastery, or lamenting the loss of something wild? Curator: A potent question, and one that echoes through history and into our present moment. This work serves as a powerful reminder of that complex relationship. Editor: It's a fascinating and disturbing glimpse into the values of another time.