Jagers gebruiken pelikanen om vis te vangen 1602

Antonio Tempesta created this print of hunters using pelicans to catch fish at the turn of the 17th century. The image suggests the economic structures of the East. The print depicts a highly organized form of hunting, involving what appear to be tamed pelicans. The hunters use the pelicans to retrieve fish. On the riverbank are gathered people who are presumably the beneficiaries of this communal activity. The landscape is lush and bountiful, with trees lining the waterside to emphasize the richness of the environment. The text beneath the image suggests the scene is set in India, though filtered through a Western lens. The image thus raises questions about the representation of non-Western cultures in European art and the role of these depictions in shaping European perceptions of the East. To study this print, a historian would consult accounts by travelers and explorers, and research visual codes and cultural references to understand its meaning.