Natie de stoeffer / Ignance le fanfaron 1833 - 1911

This print, made by Brepols & Dierckx zoon, presents a series of vignettes depicting two characters, Natie and Ignace, engaged in various boastful and foolish scenarios. Animals—lions, bears, and geese—are presented with human qualities. Consider the recurring figure of the lion: traditionally a symbol of courage and royalty, here it's mocked and outwitted. This recalls the ancient fable tradition, where animals served as allegories for human follies. We can trace this back to Aesop and see echoes in medieval bestiaries, where the symbolic weight of animals was used to impart moral lessons. The persistence of animal symbols speaks to our collective need to understand ourselves through the lens of the natural world. These images touch on a deeper, psychological level, tapping into our primal fears and desires. The mocking and the mocking of the lion—a king of beasts—resonates with the Freudian idea of the "return of the repressed." The animal motif, used to convey a sense of superiority over nature, reminds us of the complex interplay between our conscious and unconscious minds.