Beschouwt hier, kinderen! een agttal wilde dieren, / Die, weinig ond bekend, in vreemde landen [(...)]ieren 1806 - 1830

This 19th-century print by Johan Noman depicts a menagerie of exotic animals and was intended as an educational tool for children in the Netherlands. Prints like these, particularly those depicting the natural world, reflect the growth of scientific inquiry and the expansion of European colonial power during this period. They also reveal a culture grappling with its place in an increasingly interconnected world. The animals shown here – lions, elephants, camels – were encountered through trade, exploration, and colonization, and the images carry a trace of that encounter. It is interesting to note the ways these animals are both familiar and alien to the viewer. Analyzing prints like these requires us to consider not only the natural sciences but also the social and political structures that enabled their creation and distribution. Resources like colonial archives, trade records, and the writings of natural historians can help us understand the full scope of their cultural significance.