Zeevarken before 1650

"Zeevarken" (Sea Pig), a 17th-century engraving by Italian artist Antonio Tempesta, depicts a fantastical sea creature, a combination of pig and fish. Created before 1650, this detailed artwork uses cross-hatching to create a sense of realism, showcasing Tempesta's expertise in naturalistic depictions. The image is a captivating example of the belief in sea monsters during the Renaissance, a period when exploration and discovery led to the emergence of imaginative illustrations of the unknown. The artwork is currently housed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.