Ruiters te paard in gevecht met leeuwen 1772

Curator: Here we have "Ruiters te paard in gevecht met leeuwen," or "Horsemen Fighting Lions," an engraving created in 1772 by Georges Malbeste. The print depicts a rather chaotic scene, wouldn't you say? Editor: Absolutely! My immediate impression is of raw energy, all that frantic movement. I'm drawn to the texture created by the engraving technique itself, you can almost feel the scratch of the burin on the metal plate. Curator: Indeed. This piece reflects the Baroque fascination with dynamism and intense emotion. Engravings like these had a crucial function. How else were these kinds of extravagant scenes seen at the time, if not through the printing press and printed materials. Editor: Precisely, the material aspect is significant. Printmaking made such imagery accessible to a wider audience, not just the wealthy who could afford paintings. I'm thinking about the engraver's labour here, too. The skill and time needed to create these incredibly detailed lines. Curator: The theme also points to the evolving role of natural history in the late 18th century. Hunting scenes, especially those featuring exotic animals, appealed to a public interested in expanding their understanding of the natural world. It’s dedicated to Monsieur le Comte de Buffon—intendent of the King’s gardens. Editor: And beyond that interest, is the labor, literally, a lion hunt in action, bodies falling, swords striking, but really it comes back to labor involved in creating this visual document, circulating that information to a vast viewership who are experiencing all of this at a remove. I'm curious about the paper used. Was it locally sourced, or did it come from afar? What social networks underpinned its manufacture and distribution? Curator: Fascinating to think about all the levels of production involved, from the hunt to its image. This certainly offers more than a simple depiction of man versus beast, a piece rooted in the context of its time, influencing culture but is influenced by culture in equal parts. Editor: Exactly, a dialogue between skill, medium and material. Looking closely at its making encourages a fresh perspective.