Lijst van overige natuurhistorische voorstellingen 1809 - 1814

This handwritten list of natural history subjects was compiled by Joseph van Huerne. Look closely, and you'll see how the simple act of listing transforms into something more profound. The columns, filled with names in Dutch, Latin, and French, remind me of medieval bestiaries. Like those ancient texts, this list seeks to capture the essence of the natural world through language. Consider the term "Drack," or dragon. From ancient Mesopotamia to medieval Europe, dragons have symbolized chaos and untamed nature. Yet, here, it is methodically cataloged, tamed by the act of naming. The impulse to classify and order the world reveals our deep-seated need to control the unknown, a psychological defense against the anxiety of the unmanageable. Think of how the serpent, a symbol of healing and knowledge in antiquity, becomes an emblem of temptation and sin in Christian iconography. The urge to categorize and define persists through time, shaping our understanding of the world and our place within it. The non-linear journey of symbols, constantly evolving and adapting, allows them to resonate across centuries.