Jager 1712 - 1772

Petrus Johannes van Reysschoot created this print, "Jager", without a specified date, using engraving techniques. The image depicts a young sportsman, a hunter, accompanied by an older man, likely his mentor, and several dogs, displaying the spoils of their hunt: a dead hare. Such imagery speaks to the social structures of the 18th century in the Netherlands, where hunting was both a recreational activity and a means of sustenance. The work is reflective of the economic structures of the time, where land ownership and the right to hunt were often associated with social class. By examining the artist's other works, or by consulting records of hunting practices in the 18th century Netherlands, we can deepen our understanding of the social conditions that shaped the image and its original audience. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context, and the role of the historian is to unpack these layers of meaning through careful research and analysis.