Landschap met vier hazewindhonden 1659 - 1673

Jacob de Jonckheer produced this etching of four greyhounds in a landscape in the Netherlands sometime before 1676. The greyhound was strongly associated with the aristocracy; only the wealthy could afford to keep dogs solely for hunting hare. The leashes on two of the dogs tell us they are trained for that specific purpose. The image thus presents a subtle emblem of social class and its associated privileges. Landscapes themselves gained popularity during the Dutch Golden Age as expressions of national pride and prosperity, often reflecting the values and interests of the ruling merchant class. De Jonckheer, by portraying hunting dogs in the landscape, inserts the wealthy into that vision of the nation. To understand this piece, we might look at estate records and hunting inventories to discover more about the relationship between landowners and their dogs. Art historians explore the social and economic conditions that shape artistic production.