Tartaarse man 1562

This woodcut of a Tartar man was made by François Desprez, sometime in the 16th century. The image and accompanying text are revealing about the social and cultural life of the time. Here, the figure is crudely drawn, unflatteringly presented as a barbaric ‘other’. This was a period of increased European exploration, and the image may reflect contemporary anxieties about foreign cultures and the perceived threat they posed to European identity. The framing of the image is particularly important: the figure is contained and labeled, his cultural identity and the threat he poses, neutralised. The text suggests the artist's skepticism of the Tartar, his clothing and appearance ‘not saintly’ or untrustworthy. To understand this image better, one could research European attitudes towards non-European cultures in the 16th century, paying attention to social, religious, and political contexts. Only through historical analysis can we understand its meaning and impact.