Hunters Trapping Leopards with Mirrors c. 16th century

Curator: This is Antonio Tempesta’s “Hunters Trapping Leopards with Mirrors.” Tempesta, who lived from 1555 to 1630, created this print, now held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s striking how much detail he gets with just line work! The textures of the fur and the rough construction of the traps are really compelling. Curator: The subject matter itself is quite telling. We see a hunting scene employing what appears to be a rather elaborate method using mirrors. Consider the cultural context of the hunt in the early modern period. Editor: Right, it goes beyond mere survival. These traps, nets, and even the mirrors speak to a deliberate crafting of dominance over nature. What materials were used to create the mirrors? Curator: Exactly. It represents a social hierarchy and control. It’s interesting to see how these images were circulated and consumed within courtly circles. Editor: The labor involved in constructing these traps – the weaving of the nets, the crafting of the cages. It's easy to overlook the sheer effort invested. Curator: Indeed, it all points to a complex interplay between nature, artifice, and power. Editor: Seeing the work of the hunters here, even in print form, brings to mind the work of all the people involved. It's quite powerful.