Man uit Hongarije 1562

This is a woodcut of a "Man from Hungary," made by François Desprez sometime in the 16th century. It presents us with a figure laden with weaponry and, judging by his clothing, of considerable status. Such prints, produced in multiples, offer insight into early modern Europe’s fascination with cultural difference. Consider this image's role in constructing a sense of European identity, in part, through the exoticization of those on its margins. What did the French, the presumed audience for this print, know of Hungarians? The artist relies on stereotypes – the sword, the pole, and the distinctive hat – to create a recognizable, if simplified, representation. The added text emphasizes the figure's foreignness through language, but also hints at the "Hungarian's" character. To fully understand this image, we can turn to period travelogues, costume books, and other printed ephemera. These sources reveal the complex interplay between observation, imagination, and social prejudice that shaped early modern European perceptions of the "other."