Naturhistorisk tegning 1844 - 1910

This natural history drawing by Carl Christian Larsen Cordts shows the skull and teeth of a long extinct animal. Even in its fragmented state, the skull speaks volumes. Consider how the skull, as a symbol, bridges the gap between the earthly and the ethereal. It appears in memento mori paintings, reminding us of our mortality, but also in indigenous cultures, where skulls of ancestors are revered and believed to contain spiritual power. This duality – decay and reverence – is central to understanding the skull’s enduring presence in our collective consciousness. Notice, too, the teeth. For millennia, teeth have been used in shamanic rituals to symbolize predatory power. Their presence is deeply unnerving. In the drawing, the teeth are magnified, demanding our attention. Such attention to detail reminds us that symbols carry complex emotions from generation to generation. Though rendered in simple black and white, the effect resonates with layers of cultural memory.