Rustend jachtgezelschap bij een fontein c. 1733 - 1762

Jean Moyreau created this print of a hunting party resting by a fountain, and it can be seen as a window into the social life of the 18th century. Hunting was a favorite pastime for the European elite, and images like this offer insight into the rituals and symbols that upheld the cultural order of the time. The composition is carefully arranged. We see a gathering of well-dressed hunters, their horses, and dogs, all taking respite near a decorative fountain. The fountain itself, topped with a classical sculpture, suggests the wealth and cultivated tastes of the land's owners. Hunting, in this context, was more than just a sport, it was an expression of power and privilege, a social performance. To fully appreciate this print, we might turn to period accounts of hunting practices, estate records, and even fashion plates to understand the sartorial codes of the elite. By situating the work within its original social fabric, we can better understand the values and hierarchies it reflects. The meaning of this artwork is contingent on the social and institutional context.