Schieten van de ijsbeer die twee zeelieden had aangevallen, 1595 1615 - 1617

This anonymous engraving, "Schieten van de ijsbeer die twee zeelieden had aangevallen, 1595" (Shooting of the polar bear that had attacked two sailors, 1595) depicts a dramatic scene of a polar bear attacking sailors on a beach in the Arctic. The print, made between 1615 and 1617, captures the moment when one sailor fires a musket at the bear, while another lies injured nearby. The presence of ships in the background suggests the context of early Dutch Arctic exploration. This artwork highlights the dangers faced by explorers in the Arctic and the role of firearms in protecting them. It is currently located at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.