Turken te paard - Erhard Reuwich

A fifteenth-century woodcut by Erhard Reuwich depicting Turkish horsemen, originally published in the 1486 travelogue 'Peregrinatio in terram sanctam'.

This woodcut originates from the 'Peregrinatio in terram sanctam', a travelogue written by Bernhard von Breydenbach and illustrated by the Utrecht-born artist Erhard Reuwich. Published in Mainz in 1486, the work documents a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Reuwich accompanied the party, providing sketches of the people, costumes, and cities encountered during the journey. This specific print depicts a group of Turkish horsemen, reflecting the European fascination with Eastern cultures during the late fifteenth century.

The composition is typical of early printed book illustrations, combining text with a visual narrative. The figures are arranged in a dense, overlapping formation, characteristic of the period's approach to spatial depth. Reuwich employs clear, decisive lines to define the riders, their horses, and their distinctive headgear. The inclusion of labels, such as 'turri' and 'genetzer', provides context for the viewer, identifying the subjects within the social hierarchy of the Ottoman Empire as understood by contemporary European observers. The horses are rendered with a degree of stylisation, their forms echoing the rhythmic, repetitive nature of the woodcut medium.

As one of the earliest examples of a printed travelogue featuring illustrations based on direct observation, the 'Peregrinatio' holds a specific place in the history of book production. Reuwich's work demonstrates the transition from medieval symbolic representation toward a more observational style. The print captures the visual details of the riders, from the plumes on their hats to the musical instruments held by some, offering a glimpse into the ethnographic interests of the Renaissance era. This print is a reproduction of the original woodblock impression, preserving the stark contrast and graphic quality of the fifteenth-century printing process.