Frieze with Sea Monsters 1580 - 1600

Johann Theodor de Bry created this engraving, Frieze with Sea Monsters, likely at the turn of the 17th century in Germany. De Bry was a publisher and engraver. A frieze is a horizontal band of sculpture, and this print would have likely served as inspiration for one. At this time, Europeans were encountering new cultures and species through exploration. The sea monsters here borrow features from known animals like dogs, lions, and elephants. De Bry also exaggerates and hybridizes them. The image thus reflects early modern Europe’s fascination with the natural world. But the image also demonstrates the cultural power of the printing press. Printmaking allowed for the wide dissemination of images and ideas. De Bry's workshop, for example, published illustrated travelogues which shaped Europeans’ understanding of the Americas. To further understand this image, one might research the dissemination of natural histories or so-called monster books in the 17th century. In this way, we can recognize the significance of this print and the cultural institution in which it was made.