Jacht op herten 1598

Antonio Tempesta created this print, "Deer Hunt," using etching and engraving techniques. Born in Florence during the late Renaissance, Tempesta’s work often depicted dynamic scenes of battles, hunts, and processions reflecting the cultural values of the ruling elite. Here, the power dynamics between humans and animals, and among different classes of people, are starkly visualized. Figures on horseback, presumably nobles, dominate the scene, while others on foot are engaged in the active pursuit and killing of deer. The presence of hunting dogs and leopards further emphasizes the collaboration between humans and animals in the hunt. What do you think about this collaboration, is it an exploitation of nature? Or a display of human dominance? The artist renders this violent interaction with a certain aesthetic flair.