Twee omlijstingen van houten planken met voorstellingen van dieren c. 1866 - 1900

Michel Liénard created these two prints titled 'Twee omlijstingen van houten planken met voorstellingen van dieren'. During Liénard's time, the representation of animals in art often served as a reflection of societal values and the relationship between humans and nature. These prints offer a glimpse into the cultural perceptions of wildlife and the natural world of the time. The depictions of animals within wooden plank frames evokes an interesting tension. The use of such frames could be interpreted as a deliberate choice to highlight the constructed nature of our understanding of the natural world. Are these images an attempt to capture or perhaps even domesticate, elements of the wild? Consider, too, the contrast between the untamed animals depicted and the constraints of the wooden frames. It highlights the complex relationship between humanity and the animal kingdom. These images, in their intimate scale, offer a powerful reflection on our place within the broader ecosystem.