Twee leeuwen 1728

Bernard Picart created this etching of two lions in the early 18th century, a period when Europe was expanding its reach across the globe. The lion, often seen as a symbol of power, was a popular emblem for European empires at the time. Consider these lions, lounging, seemingly without a care. Lions, like other animals from colonized lands, were transported to Europe and put on display as trophies. What did it mean to see these creatures removed from their natural habitat? How did this affect the way Europeans understood their relationship to the world and its inhabitants? In Picart’s depiction, we see the lions rendered with a certain vulnerability. They are presented not as fierce rulers of the jungle, but as creatures caught in a moment of repose. It’s a reminder of the complex ways in which animals have been both symbols of power and subjects of exploitation throughout history.