Twee zeehonden, een zeeleeuw en een harder 1600 - 1638

Pierre Firens created this engraving of two seals, a sea lion and a harder, a type of fish, in the early 17th century. During this period, there was a surge of interest in natural history and exploration. It is interesting to observe the tension in the work between scientific documentation and cultural interpretation. The detailed depiction of the animals reflects a desire for accurate representation, yet the way they are presented also reveals cultural assumptions about the natural world. For example, the seals are labeled with Latin names, ‘Vitulus marinus’ and ‘Canis marinus’ which aligns with the scientific language of the time, but the image is also infused with a sense of wonder, almost encouraging the viewer to approach the scene with curiosity and imagination. Such prints played a significant role in shaping European understanding of global biodiversity. They reflect both a growing scientific understanding and the biases inherent in colonial exploration. The image invites us to consider how we assign meaning to the natural world and how these representations reflect and shape our cultural values.