from The Set of The Bears 1659 - 1669

Marcus de Bye created this etching, from The Set of The Bears, in the 17th Century. At this time, the Dutch Golden Age was in full bloom, marked by prosperity, global trade, and a flourishing interest in naturalism within the arts and sciences. Here, de Bye pictures a bear not as a symbol of nobility or ferocity, but as a creature in its habitat. He captures its heavy gait and textured fur, inviting us to consider its physical presence in the world. In the background, figures appear tiny against the landscape, highlighting a contrast between the animal and human realms. Seventeenth-century Dutch art often served to reinforce the social hierarchy. But, in this image, might the artist be challenging human dominance by placing the bear so prominently? How might the figure of the bear destabilize the human narrative? This etching provides a space to reflect on our relationship with the natural world, and on our own place within it.