Het beestenspel 1823 - 1900

This print, "Het beestenspel," by Johann Wilhelm Kaiser, captures a visit to a menagerie. Here, the animals are confined in cages, starkly contrasting with the free-spirited symbolism often associated with them. Consider the pelican, traditionally a symbol of sacrifice and nurturing, here reduced to a caged exhibit. This motif echoes through time, from medieval bestiaries where animals carried moral lessons to modern zoos, where they become objects of observation. The cage itself is a potent symbol, a recurring motif in art and dreams, representing restriction and the suppression of primal instincts. Observe how this changes the dynamic between humans and animals. What does it mean for a symbol, when its primary characteristic changes in this way? It conjures a sense of unease, tapping into our subconscious fears of confinement and the loss of freedom, a disquieting reminder of our complex relationship with the natural world.