Studies van twee leeuwen 1792 - 1810

Wouter Johannes van Troostwijk made this study of two lions with pen in gray ink and gray wash. Made in the Netherlands, the image speaks to a history of colonial expansion. European artists’ fascination with lions grew as their empires did, coming to symbolize imperial power. What makes this artwork so interesting, though, is its depiction of these lions as passive, even docile. In fact, one appears to be sleeping! We might wonder, is van Troostwijk commenting on the decline of Dutch power during this period? As an art historian, I would want to look into visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations from the time it was made. What did lions mean to Dutch people in the late 18th and early 19th centuries? What was the role of the artist? By researching these questions, we can better understand the meaning of this fascinating drawing.