Gevleugelde zeeleeuw met golvende manen en een baard c. 1526 - 1606

Adam Fuchs created this engraving of a winged sea lion with flowing mane and beard sometime before his death in 1606. During the late 16th and early 17th centuries, emblem books and prints were popular, often featuring allegorical figures meant to convey moral or philosophical ideas. The sea lion, here, is a fantastical creature, embodying a kind of hybridity that speaks to the transformations and fluidity of identity. Its powerful lion body merged with aquatic elements suggests strength combined with adaptability. Consider how these mythical creatures might mirror societal expectations, especially for men, who were often expected to embody both reason, symbolized by the lion, and resourcefulness, represented by the sea. The emotional tension in the piece comes from the gaze of the sea lion. It suggests both a guarding of territory and a yearning for connection. In its time, this image would have invited viewers to reflect on their own nature, caught between earthly desires and higher aspirations.