Kop van een leeuw 1555

This is a 16th-century engraving of a lion’s head, made by an artist known only as Monogrammist AP. Lions appear throughout European heraldry as symbols of courage, nobility, royalty, strength, and valor. By the 16th century, lions could be found on the royal arms of many European nations, including England, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and more. But, the lion represented here is not regal. It is presented almost as a grotesque, emphasizing the animal’s aggression and the ugliness of its teeth. Is this a comment on the part of Monogrammist AP? Is the artist critiquing the nobility of Europe by associating them with the brute force of the animal kingdom? To truly understand the image, one would need to know the artist’s social position and political views. Unfortunately, that is impossible here, as the artist is unknown. Nevertheless, the image raises questions about the social role of symbolism.