Brullende leeuw, de staart in de lucht 1664

Marcus de Bye created this etching of a roaring lion in the Dutch Republic during the Golden Age, a time of immense economic and cultural growth. Lions, historically symbols of strength and courage, were often employed to represent power, especially that of ruling elites. In this context, consider the cultural fascination with exotic animals during the period of Dutch colonialism, and how images like this one were circulated. Here the lion, though roaring, seems trapped within the confines of the print, almost like a specimen. Does the artist challenge or reinforce societal hierarchies? What emotions does the image evoke? What does the lion's roar signify? Is it a symbol of untamed power, or a cry of desperation from a creature displaced from its natural habitat? The print encourages us to consider how we frame and understand both wildness and power.