Bronzen leeuw aan de voet van Nelson's Column op Trafalgar Square, Londen 1888 - 1890

Willem Witsen sketched this bronze lion at the foot of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century. Lions often symbolize power, courage, and nobility. In the context of British colonialism, particularly during the Victorian era, these representations become complex. The lion here could be seen as a symbol of British imperial might, a projection of dominance over colonized lands and peoples. Nelson's Column itself commemorates a naval hero instrumental in expanding British power. What does it mean to memorialize power? Who gets remembered, and what does it mean when those symbols of power are perceived differently over time? Witsen's sketch invites us to consider these questions, prompting a reflection on history, memory, and the legacies that shape our present.