Hippopotamus and Crocodile Hunt Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)
Peter Paul Rubens – Hippopotamus and Crocodile Hunt
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Painter: Peter Paul Rubens
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The painting was painted in 1616. The hippo is depicted much smaller than in reality. But when viewed as a whole, the appearance of the animal is faithfully conveyed. From the mouth of the hippopotamus protruding fangs. Rubens created a whole series of paintings on the theme of hunting. The viewer pays tribute to the painter’s skill, but at the same time feels some implausibility of what is happening.
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Description of Peter Rubens’ painting The Hippopotamus Hunt
The painting was painted in 1616.
The hippo is depicted much smaller than in reality. But when viewed as a whole, the appearance of the animal is faithfully conveyed. From the mouth of the hippopotamus protruding fangs.
Rubens created a whole series of paintings on the theme of hunting. The viewer pays tribute to the painter’s skill, but at the same time feels some implausibility of what is happening. We are looking at two animals being hunted at the same time, a crocodile and a hippopotamus. On the one hand, these animals both live in the water, but it is rather difficult to assume that people would hunt two such animals at once. Three men in turbans, presumably Arabs, try to stick their spears into the hippo. The dogs also pounce on it. One of the hunters is already defeated. We see no blood, but for him the hunt is already over. The dog is clawing at the crocodile’s tail, and the unjuvenile hunter with knife in hand is about to strike this reptile.
Rubens is the founder of an entirely new style of painting, the Baroque. It is incredibly vivid and as exciting as possible. The artist’s style is incredibly vivid and necessarily opulent. He depicted all figures in motion. Shadow and light are sharply contrasted. This canvas of the artist is no exception. The viewer sees the painter’s distinctive manner that shines through in every detail.
Before Rubens, animals and people were not depicted in violent fights. The artist was carried far beyond historical reality. He has animals and people fighting, and the fight occurs completely spontaneously. All the hunting scenes are incredibly tense. We feel how intense the passions of the raging on the canvas.
Rubens creates a variety of forms, the combination and fusion of which is intended to enhance all the drama that is playing out before our eyes. The viewer’s attention is deliberately shifted not to life, as it might seem at first glance, but to the death of the animals depicted in the painting.
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The human participants are depicted as men adorned in elaborate turbans and richly colored garments, mounted on powerful horses that mirror their own energy and aggression. One rider brandishes a spear aloft, seemingly directing the action or celebrating a victory. The other riders appear to be actively engaged in restraining or attacking the animals. Their expressions convey a mixture of determination and perhaps even exhilaration at the perilous undertaking.
Below the central struggle, two men are prostrate on the ground, one wielding a weapon against the crocodile while the other appears to have been thrown from his mount. The depiction of their vulnerability contrasts sharply with the dominance displayed by the riders and the sheer size of the animals. Their poses suggest both resistance and defeat.
The background is rendered in muted tones, suggesting dense vegetation and distant landforms. Palm trees are visible on the right side, hinting at a tropical locale. The lighting is dramatic, highlighting the muscular forms of the hippopotamus and horses while casting shadows that enhance the sense of turmoil and danger.
Subtextually, the work seems to explore themes of human dominance over nature, albeit with an acknowledgement of the inherent risks involved. The lavish attire of the hunters suggests a display of wealth and power, implying this is not merely a subsistence hunt but a demonstration of control over a wild and potentially dangerous environment. Theres also a sense of theatricality; the scene feels staged, emphasizing spectacle over realism. The vulnerability of the men on the ground introduces an element of tragedy, suggesting that even with their apparent superiority, humans are susceptible to the forces they attempt to subdue. Ultimately, the painting conveys a complex narrative about power, risk, and the precarious relationship between humanity and the natural world.