1540/1544 Munster- Die Neuwen Inseln Map
1540/1544 Munster- Die Neuwen Inseln Map
Munster is known to have produced engravings of such high quality and character of line resulting in maps that are considered works of art. He was the foremost German geographer of his day, producing fine line work with woodcuts. In this relief process, an image is drawn in reverse directly on the flat surface of a woodblock. Then, the portions of the block not carrying the image are cut away, leaving a raised surface with the image.
This woodcut map by Munster is based on a Ptolemy Atlas from 1400 years earlier, and therefore has many inaccuracies. (Claudius Ptolemy was a Greek astronomer and geographer.) It shows Magellan’s circumnavigation of the world in 1519 through 1522, but Japan is depicted off the west coast of North America where Hawaii is actually located. Munster portrayed Brazil as having cannibals and the Yucatan Peninsula is depicted as an island.
Dimensions: 17.5 x 13.5
GLO#93803
