Dead Game 1701

Jan Weenix, painted "Dead Game," likely in the late 17th or early 18th century, capturing the opulence and brutality of the Dutch Golden Age. The painting presents a scene of hunting spoils. A dead hare hangs prominently, surrounded by birds, a hunting dog, and classical architectural elements. These lavish still lifes were fashionable among the Dutch upper class, celebrating their wealth and power through symbols of nature, dominance, and aristocratic leisure. But the serene surface belies deeper tensions. Think about the environmental impact of such relentless hunting, alongside the social hierarchies reinforced by these displays of ownership. How might the experience of viewing this image shift if we consider our current ecological awareness? “Dead Game” becomes a reminder of a historical moment, yet speaks to our present-day questions about ethics, consumption, and our relationship to the natural world.