Water dragende 'Sacchaz' (pelgrim uit Mekka) 1555 - 1568

Léon Davent produced this print of a water-bearing pilgrim from Mecca sometime between 1540 and 1556. The image offers a window into the visual culture of 16th-century Europe and its fascination with the ‘exotic’ other. The print presents a figure identified as a ‘Sacchaz,’ a water carrier from Mecca, highlighting the religious significance of the city. The man's attire and accessories, like the turban and ornate water-carrying vessels, signal his foreign origin. This image was produced during a period marked by increasing contact and conflict between Europe and the Islamic world. The representation of this pilgrim can tell us a lot about the power dynamics and cultural perceptions that defined these relationships. The very act of depicting and naming him frames him within a European context, even as it acknowledges his religious identity. Understanding such images requires us to dig into the archives, examining travel literature, political tracts, and other cultural artifacts to better understand the historical context.