Jonge jeugd wild met vermaak / Deze prente leere lezen / Wanneer gy dan wat verder raakt / Een teekenaar ook wezen 1787 - 1822

This print, made by Jan Hendrik de Lange, is a tableau of beasts, each neatly framed. These creatures, from the regal lion to the humble dragonfly, offer more than mere representation. They are symbols, and keys to understanding the world, presented as an educational tool for the "Jonge Jeugd." Consider the owl, a creature often linked with wisdom. In ancient Greece, it was associated with Athena, the goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare. Yet, the owl is also a creature of the night, linked to darkness. Herein lies the power of symbols. They shift, they adapt, and they accumulate layers of meaning. In this bestiary, De Lange captures a moment in the ongoing evolution of these symbols. Each animal, each tiny creature, is a fragment of a collective memory, resurfacing in the visual language of daily life. They echo through time, and engage with us on a subconscious level.