Bloodless Giraffe Hunt 1911

Moriz Jung created this print, "Bloodless Giraffe Hunt," during a vibrant period in Vienna, Austria. It critiques the thrill of the hunt among the privileged classes. Jung’s image highlights the era's fascination with both exotic wildlife and technological advancement. The absurdity of hunting giraffes from an airplane is a visual comment on the changing relationship between humans and the natural world. It also speaks to the shift towards a more mechanized, and perhaps detached, mode of interaction. The visual language of the print – its bold lines and simplified forms – echoes the influence of Japanese woodblock prints, which were hugely popular among European artists at the time. This was a period when traditional academic art was being challenged by those with a focus on social issues. The artwork is a fascinating reflection of early 20th-century anxieties and aspirations, which we can further understand by researching publications and cultural documents of the period.