Twee leeuwen, een slang en een schedel

This print, whose author is unknown, presents two lions, a snake, and a skull. It is held in the Rijksmuseum. The image creates meaning through visual codes and cultural references. The print probably dates from the 16th or 17th century when the rise of scientific and rational thought resulted in natural history becoming a popular genre. The fierceness of the lions could evoke a pre-enlightenment worldview in which the power of nature was a fearsome phenomenon. Snakes and skulls were common memento mori in this period, reminding viewers of their mortality. The museum's role in collecting and preserving this image is important, but so is the artist's role in producing it. Art is always contingent on its social and institutional context. To better understand this print we can consult natural histories and emblem books from the period to find the symbolism of the images.