Zie kinders in deez' prent, een aantal vreemde dieren, / Hun afkomst, hun bestaen, hun wreedheid en manieren / Je vous presente, enfans! ces bêtes ètrangères / Leur race et cruauté, leur vie et leurs manieres 1856 - 1900

Editor: This etching from between 1856 and 1900, titled "Zie kinders in deez' prent...", attributed to Glenisson & Zonen, shows a grid of fanciful animals. The creatures look half real and half like they're from a child's imagination. What can you tell me about it? Curator: What immediately strikes me is how these creatures aren't simply zoological illustrations. Each one is bisected, almost like a diptych within a single image, showing two potential realities for each animal. Do you notice how half of each animal is 'realistic' in color, and the other is tinged with fantastical green or yellow? Editor: I see that now! It's almost like a before-and-after, or maybe a "what if" scenario played out on each animal. What does that division signify? Curator: Perhaps it's an exploration of nature versus imagination. The artist seems to ask, "Where does the animal end and the idea of the animal begin?" These vibrant colours hint at the transformative power of stories and folklore on our understanding of the natural world, shaping how we perceive these creatures. Editor: That's fascinating! The image isn't just showing us animals, but how our minds interpret and sometimes distort reality. Curator: Precisely. It's a visual representation of the narratives we weave around these creatures, perpetuating cultural beliefs and even fears, reflected across time. Even now we associate colour to species: imagine the symbolism a Bengal tiger may have when considering that one of the regions where this animal dwells in Bangladesh and its National Colour is Green. This engraving is as much a study in psychology as it is a catalogue of animals. Editor: I never thought of it that way. This little print contains a whole world of symbolism! Thanks for pointing it out.