Figur des Wilden Manns und Weibs so in Engelland gebracht 1598

This woodcut titled ‘Figur des Wilden Manns und Weibs so in Engelland gebracht’ was created by an anonymous artist and depicts ‘wild’ figures supposedly brought to England. The image invites us to consider the historical context of colonialism and the ways in which encounters with different cultures often resulted in misrepresentation. Here, the 'wild man and woman' aren't simply individuals, they become symbols onto which European anxieties and projections are cast. The term 'wild' itself carries heavy implications about civilization versus savagery, reflecting a deeply ingrained colonial mindset. What does it mean to label someone as ‘wild’ and then bring them to England to be put on display? Consider how the image plays into the trope of the 'other' – a figure exoticized and dehumanized for the consumption of a European audience. What stories are silenced? What power dynamics are at play? How do we resist the urge to perpetuate these historical injustices?