Jacht op struisvogels 1600 - 1620

Antonio Tempesta created this print, “Ostrich Hunt,” sometime between 1555 and 1630. During this time, Europe was expanding its reach through exploration and colonization, leading to increased encounters with the non-European world. Look closely, and you’ll see the hunters, depicted with a mix of European and vaguely “Oriental” features, their dress codes mirroring this cultural fusion. They are in the act of pursuing ostriches, creatures then seen as exotic commodities. The intensity of the hunt evokes the broader dynamic of exploitation and domination that characterized interactions between Europe and the regions it sought to control. Tempesta’s choice of subject matter reflects the period’s fascination with the exotic, but it also speaks to the violence inherent in the quest for knowledge and resources. The hunt is not just a sport; it is a performance of power, one that blurs the lines between scientific curiosity and colonial ambition. This print invites us to consider the ethics of representation and the power dynamics embedded in the act of looking and knowing.