Isegrim voor koning Nobel 1866 - 1939

Bernard Willem Wierink created this drawing, Isegrim voor koning Nobel, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century, using pencil, pen and watercolor. Wierink, who lived through both world wars, was a Dutch artist known for his illustrations, many of which had literary themes. This piece appears to depict a scene from a fable, perhaps one where animals stand in for human figures, enacting social dramas of hierarchy and power. The setting is regal, with lions enthroned, attended by a court of various animals. What stories do we tell ourselves about who deserves to rule, and who is relegated to the margins? How do gender dynamics play out in these power structures, as suggested by the lion and lioness figures? The somewhat muted palette and the animals' expressive faces evoke a sense of melancholy. What does it mean to see human-like emotions and social structures reflected in the animal kingdom? This drawing invites us to consider our own place in the complex narratives we create, and the roles we play within them.