Lama 1829 - 1880

This print, titled 'Lama,' was created by firma Joseph Scholz. The Lama here is a symbol that has been revered through the ages, particularly by the people of the Andes. Note how the animal is depicted against the backdrop of towering mountains. This juxtaposition is a subtle visual cue, linking the animal to its native, elevated landscape. In Andean cultures, the mountains themselves are often seen as sacred, thus the Lama is not merely an animal, but an emblem of the rugged, spiritual terrain. The Lama, domesticated and revered, echoes the role of sacrificial animals in ancient Greek rites. These creatures served as intermediaries to the divine, embodying both the community's hopes and its fears. The practice of animal sacrifice stretches back into the depths of human history, yet here, it has evolved, sublimated into the figure of the Lama, an animal of burden and a cultural symbol.