Bas-reliëf met leeuwenjacht 1636 - 1647

Gabriel Ladame created this bas-relief with a lion hunt sometime in the 17th century. During this period, the Dutch Republic was expanding its colonial power, a context that might invite us to interpret this print as more than just a scene of the hunt. Consider the depiction of the hunt, a symbol of power and control. It can be seen as a metaphor for the colonial dynamic, with the hunters representing European powers asserting dominance over foreign lands and people, here symbolized by the lions. The print also features classical figures, a nod to the era's fascination with antiquity and the use of classical themes to legitimize contemporary power structures. What does it mean to see ourselves as separate from the natural world, entitled to subdue it? How might this translate into our relationships with one another? Ladame's print invites us to reflect on these questions, bridging the gap between historical representation and contemporary awareness.