Hunting a Hippopotamus in Africa
  • German Artist
  • 19th Century
  • Hunting a Hippopotamus in Africa
  • Watercolour on paper
  • 168 × 127 mm

The final moments of a hippopotamus’ hunt are played out here with theatrical escalation. In front of a lush jungle setting, the boats approach both the prey and the viewer with their African crew through the foamy wake of the struggle. The European looks out from the background, but it remains for the bravest of the natives to hurl the lance that will kill the severely-wounded animal.