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Sperm whale being hunted by whalers, 19th century
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Sperm whale being hunted by whalers, 19th century
Sperm whale or cachalot, Physeter macrocephalus, being harpooned by whalers, 19th century. Handcoloured lithograph after an illustration by James Stewart from Georg Friedrich Treitschkes Gallery of Natural History, Naturhistorischer Bildersaal des Thierreiches, Liepzig, 1840
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Media ID 23207708
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Bildersaal Friedrich Gallery Georg Harpoon Hunt Macrocephalus Naturhistorischer Physeter Sperm Stewart Thierreiches Treitschke Whale Whalers Whaling Cachalot Spermaceti
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative handcoloured lithograph depicts a Sperm Whale, or Physeter macrocephalus, being harpooned by determined whalers in the 19th century. The image is derived from an illustration by James Stewart, created for Georg Friedrich Treitschke's renowned Gallery of Natural History, Naturhistorischer Bildersaal des Thierreiches, published in Leipzig in 1840. The Sperm Whale, also known as the Cachalot, is the largest living toothed predator and the largest of all living cetaceans. With its massive head, which can account for up to one-third of its total body length, and its distinctive square-shaped, spermaceti-filled head, this magnificent creature was a prized target for whalers during the 19th century. The whalers in this scene are shown in the midst of a dangerous and grueling hunt. One whaler is seen skillfully aiming and throwing a harpoon, while another is holding the harpoon line taut. The whale, in a desperate effort to free itself, breaches the surface, creating a massive splash. The intense energy and raw power of both the whale and the whalers is palpable in this image. The handcoloured lithograph technique adds depth and richness to the scene, enhancing the intricacy of the details and the vividness of the colours. The combination of natural history and the human element in this print offers a unique insight into the whaling industry during the 19th century, a time when the demand for whale products such as oil and spermaceti drove the hunt for these magnificent creatures to unprecedented levels.
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