Hunting a Ferret with Blanks, from the series Hunting Scenes

Art Historical Context

This lively lithograph, created in 1829 by French artist Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps and published by Gihaut Frères with Charles Tilt, belongs to the series *Hunting Scenes*. Decamps, a leading figure in the Romantic movement, was celebrated for his spirited depictions of animals and everyday life, often infused with humor and movement. Here, the unusual subject of “hunting a ferret with blanks” suggests a playful or satirical take on traditional sporting imagery, reflecting the period’s growing interest in lighthearted genre scenes rather than grand historical subjects. As a lithograph, the work exemplifies the medium’s rising importance in early nineteenth-century France. Lithography allowed artists to produce affordable, high-quality prints that reached wider audiences beyond elite collectors, helping to popularize Romantic themes. The sheet’s modest size—roughly 10½ by 13⅜ inches—made it well suited for domestic display or inclusion in albums. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1926 through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, this print preserves Decamps’s witty observation of human and animal behavior while showcasing the technical vitality of early lithographic art.

About the Artist

Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps|Gihaut Frères|Gihaut Frères|Charles Tilt · 1803–1860

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