An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
The Rabbit Hunt1560
Pieter Bruegel
In this etching considered the artist's only autograph print, Pieter Bruegel the Elder replicated the graphic vocabulary of dots and dashes of his pen-and-ink drawings to evoke a vivid sense of atmosphere and light and create a deep recession into space. His representations of nature, including majestic mountains—an unusual and popular subject in the flat Netherlands—exemplify an unprecedented naturalism that the artist helped to usher in. What at first appears to be a pleasant landscape with a hunter aiming his crossbow at some rabbits in the grass becomes more ominous when we notice the spear-bearing soldier stalking not the rabbits, but the hunter. Bruegel often translated popular proverbs into pictorial form: in this case, "A hare yourself, you hunt for prey" is the most apt. In Bruegel's world, reversals such as this suggested that humans, vainly believing they control their fate, are instead subject to powers outside of their control.
Pieter Bruegel the Elder's paintings, drawings, and prints often drew from popular proverbs, translating them into pictorial form. In the case of this etching, "A hare yourself, you hunt for prey" is perhaps the most apt.
etching
Platemark: 22.1 x 29 cm (8 11/16 x 11 7/16 in.); Sheet: 24.3 x 31.8 cm (9 9/16 x 12 1/2 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
In a world where the air is thick with stories, there lies an etching, a solitary signature whispered onto the canvas by none other than the formidable Pieter Bruegel the Elder. This particular piece, considered his lone autograph print, unfolds like a tale spun from the very fabric of life's complexities. With a delicate hand, Bruegel employs a graphic language of dots and dashes, reminiscent of his pen-and-ink drawings, to breathe life into an atmosphere rich with light and shadow, beckoning the viewer into a deep embrace of space.
Imagine standing before this artwork—a scene that at first glance seems idyllic, portraying a gentle landscape where a hunter stands poised with his crossbow, eyes intent on a pair of unsuspecting rabbits nestled in the lush grass below. The sun casts a warm glow over the majestic mountains in the distance—a depiction quite remarkable, considering the flat terrain of the Netherlands, which often results in a backdrop less dramatic. Bruegel's brush strokes capture nature in its raw beauty, a naturalism that not only speaks to the artist's skill but also marks a significant evolution in the portrayal of the environment.
Yet, just as the heart begins to settle into the charm of this pastoral scene, the narrative takes a darker turn. A spear-bearing soldier looms in the shadows, not in pursuit of the innocent rabbits, but with intentions directed at the unsuspecting hunter himself. This twist, crafted with deft precision, breathes an unsettling tension into the composition—a reminder of the unseen dangers that lurk behind the veil of everyday life.
In Bruegel's world, these moments of irony are not mere happenstance. They echo the proverbial wisdom that he often wove into his works. Here, the adage "A hare yourself, you hunt for prey" resonates profoundly, revealing a nuanced commentary on the whims of fate. In this realm, the hunter believes himself to be the master of his destiny, yet the soldier's shadow reveals a more profound truth: we exist within a web of forces far beyond our control.
Through this etching, Bruegel invites us to reflect on our own narratives. In the harmony of nature and the unpredictability of fate, we are reminded of the delicate balance inherent in our existence—a reminder that while we may carry our own crossbows, the real prey may not always be what we seek.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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