Neushoorn in bergachtig landschap 1727

This engraving by Jan Wandelaar depicts a rhinoceros in a mountainous landscape. The rhinoceros, adorned with armor-like plates, embodies an enduring symbol of power and exoticism, one that has rippled through art history. The rhinoceros here reminds us of Dürer’s famous woodcut; a symbol of the exotic that sparked the European imagination. Yet, in Wandelaar’s rendering, the beast is further distanced from its true form, draped in almost comical armor. This act of reimagining recalls the mythical creatures of medieval bestiaries, where imagination often triumphed over accurate observation. Consider how such representations reflect a culture grappling with the unfamiliar. The impulse to ‘armor’ the rhinoceros perhaps reveals a subconscious desire to control and contain the untamed. This is how symbols evolve: an exotic animal becomes a canvas for cultural projections, a mirror reflecting our own desires and anxieties.