The small lion hunt (with two lions) 1859

Léopold Flameng created this etching, "The Small Lion Hunt (with two lions)," in the 19th century. This print embodies the 19th-century interest in reproducing artworks, and circulating their imagery to a broader public, as well as the ongoing fascination with exotic, dangerous creatures. Consider how the image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. Léopold Flameng made this copy in France in the 19th century. France at this time had a very structured and rigorous institutional art world, and the popularization of art was a huge trend. The practice of copying a famous artwork democratized art, and this print, due to its small size, could fit easily into albums and be shown to many people. This print, and others like it, helps us think about the social conditions that shape artistic production. Historians of art can look at the original artwork that this is based on, Léopold Flameng’s other works, and printed material from 19th century France to gain a better understanding of this artwork in its social and institutional context.