Sø- og landmonstre 1548 - 1549

Hans Rudolf Manuel Deutsch created this print, "Sea and Land Monsters," sometime in the mid-16th century. It's made using the technique of engraving, which involves cutting lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. The real subject here is labor. The artist has meticulously carved out all the details of this fantastical seascape. Look at the way he has described the scales of the sea serpent, or the churning waves; this took time and great skill to achieve. Engraving was part of a burgeoning print industry, so it's worth considering this image as a commodity, made to be sold. What’s more, prints like this one helped to expand people’s horizons. This image presents a fearful vision of the natural world, the kind of danger that explorers might encounter on their voyages, but these journeys also brought economic reward. When you look at this print, consider not only the labor of the artist, but also of the sailors risking their lives on the open ocean.