Jacht op eenhoorns 1594 - 1598

Editor: So, this is Jan Collaert II's "The Hunt for Unicorns," an engraving from the late 1590s currently at the Rijksmuseum. There's such dramatic tension, with the hunters poised to strike and the unicorns desperately fleeing. How do we unpack its significance in its historical moment? Curator: That’s a keen observation. Let’s consider this print within the broader context of European exploration and trade with Asia. The image presents a "hunt in India", a far off, exotic location to most 16th century Europeans. The unicorn's horn was believed to possess medicinal properties, a myth fueled by texts dating back to ancient Greece and, notably, reinforced by commercial interests. What do you notice about the depiction of the hunters and the hunted? Editor: Well, the hunters, their near nudity contrasting starkly against the suffering of the unicorn, feels inherently exploitative and speaks to colonial power dynamics and European desire. It almost seems more about commerce than art. Curator: Exactly. The visual emphasis isn’t on a heroic contest or display of skill, but on the violent acquisition of a commodity believed to have almost magical qualities. The inscription further cements this relationship with global markets and exploitation. The "cornu quibus exstat", or the horn from which flows everything, directly emphasizes this aspect. Editor: I see your point. So, this piece is less a celebration of a mythological creature and more a commentary on emerging global trade practices and how this shapes knowledge production and social order at home. The exoticization and monetization is deeply problematic. Curator: Precisely. It exposes the ways in which the desire for profit and power intersect with art. Even seemingly fantastical imagery can reflect the very real social and political landscape. Editor: This has certainly given me a lot to consider beyond the aesthetics of the image. I thought unicorn hunts only happened in fairytales. Curator: Sometimes, history writes stranger fairytales than we could ever imagine.