A Bear Hunt c. 1610

Curator: Here we have Odoardo Fialetti’s “A Bear Hunt,” currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s surprisingly dynamic for such a small print; the flurry of lines really conveys the chaos of the hunt. Curator: Indeed. Fialetti, born in 1573, captures a popular aristocratic pastime. These hunts weren't just sport; they were displays of power and control over nature. Editor: The image betrays the brutality, though. Look at the etched lines depicting the dogs—the labor of breeding and training them, all for this violent pursuit. Curator: And how the image circulates becomes a cultural artifact itself. The print makes this scene available beyond the aristocratic circles who participated in hunts. Editor: It’s a stark reminder of how materials and labor intersect to create both the hunt itself and its representation. Curator: A complex interplay of social hierarchy, spectacle, and artistic production. Editor: Yes, a small print that speaks volumes about its time.