Landschap met neushoorn 1727

This is Jan Wandelaar's ‘Landscape with Rhinoceros,’ an engraving made in the 18th century. Here, the rhinoceros stands boldly against a rugged landscape, embodying both power and exoticism. Historically, the rhinoceros has been a symbol of strength and virility, revered in various cultures from ancient Rome to the Far East. Yet, in Wandelaar's time, it also represented the mysteries of unexplored lands, a symbol of the 'Other' that sparked both curiosity and fear. Consider the unicorn, a mythical creature whose single horn mirrors the rhinoceros's. The unicorn, often associated with purity and grace, highlights how a single motif can evolve to embody starkly different cultural values. The rhinoceros, through its imposing presence, engages our subconscious, stirring primal emotions tied to the unknown. This cyclical resurgence of symbols reveals how cultural memory shapes our perceptions, reminding us that images are never static but constantly evolving reflections of our collective psyche.