A black and white woodcut illustration depicting a group of Indigenous people hunting an alligator.
alligatorindiansbow and arrowspeartreesgrasswaterhistorical illustrationhuntingindigenous peoplealligatorwoodcut16th centuryTh. De BryVoyages to America

This is a black and white woodcut illustration depicting a group of Indigenous people hunting an alligator. The scene is set in a marshy or riverside environment, with tall grass and a few trees visible. The central focus is a large alligator, rendered with detailed scales, lying on the ground. A group of about seven Indigenous people are actively trying to capture or kill it. Some are pulling on the alligator's tail, while others are using spears and bows and arrows to attack it. The figures are depicted nude or partially clothed, with muscular builds. In the background, several other Indigenous people are standing and observing the hunt, some also armed with bows and arrows. The style of the illustration is reminiscent of early European woodcuts, with strong lines and a somewhat stylized depiction of the figures and landscape. Below the image, there is text identifying the illustration as depicting how Indigenous people killed alligators, taken from Th. De Bry's 'Voyages to America,' 1590-1591, and referencing pages 153-159.


License: CC0