Gestrande walvis bij Antwerpen, 1577 1577

This print, made in 1577 by an anonymous artist, shows beached whales near Antwerp. It’s made from an engraving, a process where lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The material qualities of the print itself – its sharp lines and graphic nature – lend a sense of stark realism to the scene. The artist paid close attention to the texture and form of the whales’ bodies, using careful line work to describe their mass and weight. It must have taken the engraver a considerable amount of time to create a drawing that would translate into the printing plate. This was before the age of photography, so a print like this would have been a rare opportunity to see such a sight. But it is the tiny figures entering the whale’s mouth in the lower corner that really catch the eye. While this print may seem to depict a straightforward record of nature, it can also be seen as a commentary on the relationship between humans and the natural world, raising questions about our place within it.