Vrouw en jongen bij een tafel met wild 1824 - 1849

Carel Frederik Curtenius Bentinck created this artwork, a black and white print, sometime in the mid-19th century. The composition strikes a balance between domestic tranquility and the raw reality of sustenance. A woman sits calmly while a boy presents hunted game, creating a scene that juxtaposes innocence with the cycle of life. Bentinck’s careful arrangement uses the table as a structural element, dividing the space between the living and the hunted. The stark contrast in tones emphasizes the textures of the fur and feathers, drawing attention to their tactile qualities. The window to the left introduces natural light, highlighting the scene's details. The formal elements suggest a deeper commentary on human existence and our relationship with nature. Bentinck’s detailed rendering invites us to consider the semiotic interplay between domesticity and the wild, questioning fixed notions of nature and culture. It presents an enduring reflection on life, death, and the everyday.