The Hunting of the Crocodile and Hippopotamus
1650
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1650
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This print shows a wild, tangled fight between humans and animals. A man on horseback swings a spear at a giant crocodile, while another horse rears up near a hippo. People on the ground struggle with weapons, and the animals look fierce. The scene is messy—bodies twist, limbs fly, and the chaos spills into a rocky shore. The artist packed in tiny details, like the Latin text at the bottom (it’s basically a dramatic caption). The mix of animals and humans feels like a story, not just a battle. If you like this wild mix of action and myth, check out chiaroscuro to see how light and dark create drama.
