Leeuwenkop 1809 - 1837

Pieter Bartholomeusz Barbiers created this drawing of a lion's head using pen and ink. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, animal studies became increasingly popular as part of the broader Enlightenment interest in natural history and scientific observation. But lions, in particular, had long been symbols of power, courage, and even royalty. The image of the lion was manipulated in the service of political ideas. It was a well-worn symbol in Dutch culture, appearing on coats of arms and in emblems of national identity. The Dutch Republic, by the time of this drawing, had undergone significant political upheaval, and the image of the lion carried all of that history with it. Art historians often consult prints and emblem books, alongside archival documents, to better understand the context in which this image was made. The meaning of art is always shaped by the social and institutional frameworks of its time.