Wild zwijn 1587

This drawing of a wild boar is part of a sketchbook by an anonymous artist. These sketches provide us with a lens into the natural world as it was observed and understood at the time. The image of the wild boar is rendered with a keen eye for detail, its bristly coat and powerful stance conveying a sense of untamed nature. Historically, the wild boar has been a figure of complex symbolism. It represents both the ferocity of the wilderness and the virility of the hunt, deeply embedded in mythology and heraldry as a symbol of courage and resilience. But the boar also embodies a tension between admiration and the desire for control, highlighting how we negotiate our relationship with the natural world. This drawing invites us to reflect on our place within the environment. It underscores our continued efforts to define and manage the wild, both around us and within ourselves.