Plate 16: Wild Boar c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel rendered this ‘Wild Boar’ in ink and watercolour, as part of a series of natural history illustrations. Notice how the composition is organized within an oval frame, creating a self-contained world. The wild boar dominates the scene, its dark, bristly fur contrasting sharply with the lighter tones of the surrounding landscape. Hoefnagel's intricate brushwork captures the texture of the boar's coarse hair and the ruggedness of the rocky terrain. The boar is carefully constructed to be an emblem of nature, untamed and indifferent to human presence. The structural organization of the picture plane, with its emphasis on symmetry and detail, echoes the broader intellectual currents of the time. This detailed study can be seen not just as a depiction of an animal, but as an exploration into the very essence of the natural world.