Pantagruel doodt de monsterlijke walvis 1716 - 1761

This engraving, "Pantagruel doodt de monsterlijke walvis," by Pieter Tanjé, depicts a scene from the novel Gargantua and Pantagruel by François Rabelais. The scene shows the giant Pantagruel killing a whale with an arrow from his ship. Tanjé's detailed depiction of the ship, the sea, and the figures is characteristic of his work. The print was made between 1716 and 1761 and is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. The scene is rendered in a stark black and white, with strong lines and shading used to convey the drama of the event. This print is a testament to the popularity of Rabelais' novel, and a fine example of Tanjé's skill as an engraver.