Karikatuur van Nutsch-Moloff 1705 - 1715

This is Martin Engelbrecht's caricature of Nutsch-Moloff, an engraving, now held in the Rijksmuseum. The image is accompanied by a text in German which describes Nutsch-Moloff as a Lapplander landowner and chief cook in the desert. Englebrecht created this caricature during a period when the representation of marginalized groups was often intertwined with prejudice. The exaggeration of Nutsch-Moloff’s features and the satirical tone of the inscription reflect the prevailing social attitudes toward outsiders and those of lower social standing. It presents us with the ways in which identities were constructed and stigmatized in early modern Europe. How does this image make you feel? Does it challenge or reinforce your understanding of historical biases and stereotypes? The caricature serves as a reminder of the power of art to perpetuate—or perhaps challenge—cultural narratives.