Liggende leeuw 1729

Bernard Picart created this print, Liggende leeuw, which translates to Reclining Lion, sometime between 1683 and 1733. During this period in Europe, the Western gaze toward the animal kingdom was evolving, influenced by colonial encounters and the burgeoning scientific revolution. What does it mean to portray a lion in repose, seemingly devoid of the regal power typically ascribed to it? Perhaps Picart, working within a society deeply structured by hierarchies, subtly critiques those very systems of power. The lion, a symbol of strength and dominance, is presented here in a moment of rest, almost vulnerability. Consider the emotional resonance of this image. Does the lion's posture evoke a sense of empathy, challenging the traditional narrative of the animal as a symbol of untamed power? This representation invites us to reconsider the power dynamics that permeate both the natural world and human society.