Topic Three: Rhinoceros

4. The text compares the woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer and Hans Burgkmair; which of the two woodcuts do you prefer and why? Please also post this response on your blog, along with an image of your preferred print. 

I prefer Dürer’s woodcut. His version was made out of his own imagination, without a reference drawing, which is a hard task to execute and yet he did it spectacularly. He also portrays the animal as a strong and brave creature, while Burgkmair’s version depicts in a sad light. 

Image for questions 4 & 7:

 

7. Which depiction of the rhinoceros did you find to be the most amusing, and why? Please also post this response to your blog, along with an image of the print from the text you found to be the most amusing. *

I found Dürer’s depiction the most amusing of all. He used pure imagination to depict an animal he had never seen before, and even though it is not a completely accurate depiction, it still is extremely impressive that he was able to make that out of a written description of the rhinoceros. I was also amused by the fact that he added the armor to the drawing, making it unique and a product of his own perception of life.