Fabel van de neushoorn en de olifanten

This etching showcases a heavily textured, 'armored' rhinoceros positioned under the shade of a large tree. In the mid-ground, a group of elephants is depicted together, illustrating the legendary rivalry between these two exotic giants often described in early modern bestiaries. The print combines natural history with the stylized tradition of the beast fable.

Produced by Aegidius Sadeler, court engraver to Emperor Rudolf II in Prague, this work represents the Mannerist fascination with 'mirabilia' and the natural world as a theater of wonders. It draws upon the ancient accounts of Pliny the Elder, who popularized the idea of the rhinoceros and elephant as mortal enemies, a theme frequently adapted in Renaissance emblem books to symbolize conflict and strength.