Leopard n.d.

This is Thomas Bewick's "Leopard," a wood engraving, demonstrating his mastery of the technique during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Bewick lived during a time when Europe’s colonial reach expanded into Africa, and along with it, a fascination with its wildlife grew. Notice how Bewick’s leopard embodies a mix of exoticism and scientific observation. The animal is meticulously detailed, yet maintains an air of wildness, reflecting the complex dynamics between the natural world and human perception at the time. Bewick wasn't merely depicting an animal; he was encapsulating a world of exploration, discovery, and the human desire to classify and understand the "other." Bewick’s work invites us to reflect on the historical contexts that shape how we see and represent the natural world. How do our cultural assumptions influence what we choose to depict and how we depict it?