Olifanten helpen een soortgenoot uit een val after 1596

This engraving, made by Jan Collaert the Younger around the turn of the 17th century, depicts elephants helping one of their own out of a pit. Collaert worked as a printmaker, translating the designs of other artists into repeatable images. The key to an engraving like this is the metal plate, usually copper, into which the image is incised. Collaert would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines into the metal, creating recesses that would hold ink. The plate would then be pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The varying depth and density of lines create the illusion of tone and texture, giving the elephants their weighty presence. Printmaking in this era was a sophisticated industry, requiring both artistic skill and technical knowledge. The prints were luxury goods but relatively available because multiples could be made. The choice of subject matter reflects a European fascination with the exotic 'other' world, as well as the era's interest in the natural world. Collaert wasn't in the jungle, but the image allowed Europeans to be closer to such places and create their own narrative.