Grommende leeuwenkop 1729

Bernard Picart made this print of a roaring lion’s head sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. As a symbol, the lion has a long history in European art, usually signifying power and courage, or, in a religious context, the strength of faith. Picart, working in the Netherlands, offers us a close-up, somewhat unsettling view. It’s a study in controlled ferocity, made during the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by unprecedented economic growth and a flourishing art market. The image might reflect the era's fascination with the exotic, as lions were not native to the Netherlands. The controlled lines of the engraving suggest an attempt to tame or understand this wildness, reflecting the broader cultural project of the time. Understanding this image means looking at emblem books, natural histories, and the economic conditions that supported artistic production. The meaning of art always depends on its context.