The Stag Hunt, from Pastoral Hunting Scenes c. 1775

This tapestry, from the workshop of Léonard Roby, presents an animated scene of a stag hunt, rich with cultural undertones. The deer, a central motif, leaps across the landscape pursued by both men and hounds, encapsulating the thrill and vigor of the chase. The stag, a symbol of nobility and the hunt, echoes through time. From the ancient Greek myth of Artemis, goddess of the hunt, to medieval tapestries depicting courtly pursuits, the hunt has represented power, skill, and the relationship between humans and nature. Yet, this pursuit also has a darker side, reflecting humanity's complex drive to dominate the natural world. Consider how this motif resonates with our primal instincts, tapping into a collective memory of survival and dominance. The act of the hunt, deeply ingrained in our psyche, continues to resurface in art, evolving from a necessary act to a symbolic representation of control and the eternal dance between hunter and hunted.