Decoratieve groepen met hazelaartakken, eekhoorns, palmbladeren en een orang-oetan before 1897

This print features decorative groupings with hazel branches, squirrels, palm leaves, and an orangutan. The anonymous artist arranges these elements into a diptych that begs us to consider the relationship between the images. The upper panel's composition, dominated by the curvilinear forms of hazel branches and the playful poses of squirrels, creates a dynamic tension. This is starkly contrasted in the lower panel by the rigid fronds of palm leaves, which frame an orangutan. The orangutan appears confined to the lower register, in comparison to the two squirrels above. This placement introduces a semiotic dimension, highlighting humanity's perceived distance from the natural world. Consider how the structural framing of these images encourages us to decode the cultural values and potential power dynamics at play. Ultimately, the work's strength lies in its invitation to question these constructed meanings and hierarchical orderings.