Paard opgejaagd door wolven 1811 - 1866

Victor Adam made this print of a horse escaping wolves sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The image shows a horse in mid-gallop, eyes wide, seemingly leaping away from two wolves in pursuit. Images of wild animals became newly popular in Europe during the 1800s, as the growth of cities created a longing for the natural world. At the same time, the way animals were represented was changing. Artists began to portray animals interacting with one another, as if to suggest that each creature had its own role to play in the environment. Here, Adam chooses to depict a dramatic struggle of predator and prey. What seems to be at stake in this picture is a natural order, as if this chase were part of a larger system. To learn more, research popular attitudes toward the environment in Europe at the time. Consider how the history of ideas and the development of institutions like the zoo and the natural history museum may have played a role in this image.