Plate 2: Two Giraffes with an Attendant c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel made this watercolor and gouache on vellum around 1575-1580. It depicts two giraffes and a human attendant within an oval frame. Made in the Habsburg Netherlands, this image reflects the early modern European fascination with the natural world, fueled by exploration and trade. The giraffes, presented as exotic curiosities, embody the era's drive to classify and control nature through scientific illustration. The inclusion of a human figure emphasizes the giraffes' scale, but also subtly asserts human dominance over the animal kingdom. The Habsburg court, a major patron of the arts and sciences, fostered an environment where such detailed studies could flourish. Hoefnagel's work also catered to the growing interest in collecting and displaying natural specimens, reflecting a broader cultural shift towards empirical observation and the celebration of human knowledge. Understanding this artwork requires looking into the history of science, the patronage of the Habsburg court, and the cultural values that shaped early modern Europe. It reminds us that art is always embedded in specific social and institutional contexts.