An Ostrich Hunt c. 16th century

Editor: This is Antonio Tempesta's "An Ostrich Hunt." It looks like an etching, and the scene is quite chaotic. What's striking to you about the social context of this hunt, given that the image is from the 16th or 17th century? Curator: Well, these prints circulated widely. Consider the politics of imagery here. Who is consuming images of exotic hunts, and what does it signify about their worldview and the culture of collecting at the time? Editor: So, the print serves almost as a status symbol, or a window into a world most people wouldn't experience firsthand? Curator: Exactly. The consumption of such prints reflects an emerging culture of curiosity and perhaps even a visual form of colonial desire. Did this shift your initial reading of the piece? Editor: It does! It’s less about a simple hunt and more about power, knowledge, and visual consumption. Thanks!