Dierenkoppen en een vruchtentros c. 1650 - 1671

Lieven Mehus created this print, ‘Animal heads and a bunch of fruit’, in the 17th Century, and it's held here at the Rijksmuseum. It’s a fantastic example of the kinds of drawings artists made as preparation for larger works, or as demonstrations of their skill. Here we see Mehus displaying his ability to capture a range of animal expressions, from the ferocity of the lion to the more placid ram, as well as a serpent and an owl. The image is full of classical references which would have been easily read by his contemporaries. The inclusion of a satyr-like face could allude to the Roman god Silenus, often associated with fertility and nature, concepts reinforced by the bunch of fruit below. The piece illustrates the era's fascination with allegorical representations and the natural world. To fully understand works such as these, a cultural historian might consult emblem books and bestiaries, popular at the time, to discover the symbolic meanings that viewers then would have understood immediately. By examining art within its historical context, we gain a deeper understanding of its intended message and its place in society.