Reproductie van Windhonden door Johannes Fijt before 1877

"Reproductie van Windhonden door Johannes Fijt", or Reproduction of Greyhounds by Johannes Fijt, was created by Joseph Maes, who was active in the late 19th century. This print exists within a history of reproducing artworks. These reproductions democratize art by making images available to broader audiences. But what does it mean to reproduce images of greyhounds? The original artist, Johannes Fijt, specialized in animal paintings, particularly hunting scenes, during the Baroque period. These images reflect the aristocracy’s fascination with hunting and their control over the natural world. Dogs, specifically, were both working animals and status symbols. Maes's late 19th-century reproduction exists in another cultural context. The rise of the middle class, alongside industrialization, fueled an interest in nature and animals as a form of leisure and an expression of domesticity. So while the image seems simple, it's really about how class shapes our relationship with animals and nature. Think about that as you move on to the next work.