Circuspaard met honden en apen 1848 - 1862

Adolphe Mouilleron created this print called 'Circus Horse with Dogs and Monkeys,' the date of which is unknown. It is currently held in the Rijksmuseum. Mouilleron worked during a time when the popularity of the circus was on the rise in Europe, but it was also a period of rigid social hierarchies, and the era of scientific racism was well underway. Here, we have a glimpse into that world, one where animals were not just performers but symbols loaded with cultural meaning. Note how the animals are arranged: the horse, burdened with its saddle, stands tall but weary. Meanwhile, the dogs and monkeys huddle at its feet. These groupings speak to the roles these creatures played in the social imagination of the time. Horses symbolized labor, dogs, loyalty, and monkeys were associated with the exotic ‘other’. Ultimately, this print invites us to reflect on our relationship with the animal world and to question the power dynamics inherent in representation and entertainment. It's a somber, evocative glimpse into a bygone era.