Vijf olifanten 1581 - 1600

This engraving, titled 'Five Elephants,' was made by an anonymous artist and is currently held in the Rijksmuseum. The image, with its somewhat fantastical rendering of elephants, tells us a lot about cross-cultural exchange and the power of imagery. Made at a time when travel to distant lands was rare, this print likely reflects a second-hand understanding of the East. The elephants, while attempting to be accurate, carry an air of European imagination, shaped by the narratives and biases of the time. The institutional history of the Dutch East India Company plays a crucial role here. It highlights the era's drive for exploration, trade, and the collection of knowledge about the wider world. Understanding this work requires us to look into travel logs, historical accounts, and the broader cultural context of 17th-century Europe. Only then can we grasp the full story behind this image and its connection to a world undergoing rapid globalization.