Artwork
Bjørnejagt
Bjørnejagt is an oil painting by the German Romanticist artist Christian David Gebauer. It dates from 1811 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Christian David Gebauer’s 1811 oil painting *Bjørnejagt* portrays a violent encounter between a bear and a pack of hunting dogs. The work, held by Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst, captures a moment of intense struggle, with the animal rearing on its hind legs while the dogs bite at its neck, back and legs under a muted sky.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a dark‑brown bear confronting six dogs of varied breeds and colours. The bear’s open mouth and raised fore‑paws suggest a defensive stance, while the snarling dogs emphasize the ferocity of the hunt, reflecting themes of man’s domination over nature common in early‑19th‑century hunting imagery.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, Gebauer employs a dynamic brushwork that conveys motion and tension. The contrast between the bear’s deep brown fur and the lighter tones of the dogs and background foliage heightens the drama, while a subdued, light‑gray sky provides a neutral backdrop that focuses attention on the combatants.
History & Provenance
Created during the period of German Romanticism, *Bjørnejagt* aligns with the era’s fascination with wild, untamed subjects. The painting entered the collection of Denmark’s national gallery, Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of early‑19th‑century Danish art.
Context
Gebauer, known for both animal and landscape subjects as well as etchings, often depicted scenes of rural life and hunting. This work reflects the contemporary interest in portraying the raw power of wildlife and the spectacle of the hunt, a popular motif among artists influenced by Romantic ideals of nature’s sublime force.
Artist & collection
Artist
Christian David Gebauer (15 October 1777 – 15 September 1831) was a Danish animal and landscape painter. He was also known for etchings.
