Two Shields with a Hare and a Moor's Head, Held by a Wild Man 1480 - 1490

Martin Schongauer created this engraving called “Two Shields with a Hare and a Moor's Head, Held by a Wild Man” during the late fifteenth century, a time of expanding European exploration and trade. At the center, we see a wild man covered in hair, a figure from folklore symbolizing untamed nature. He presents two shields. On one, a hare, often associated with vulnerability, while on the other, a “Moor’s head,” a term used in that era to describe a person of color. The figure’s gaze is averted, and their features are not individualized, representative of how people of color were seen more as a group than as individuals. This image offers insight into the complex intersection of nascent globalization, identity, and representation. It reflects the era’s limited understanding and objectification of different cultures and races, encapsulating an early moment of intercultural exchange marked by power imbalances and prejudice. The emotional impact lies in recognizing how historical depictions like these have lasting effects on contemporary perceptions of identity and difference.