Drie flamingo's en een kat 1842 - 1887

Louise Marie Françoise van der Beek created this image of flamingos and a cat using etching techniques. Here, we see a domestic scene infused with exotic birds, a juxtaposition that speaks volumes about the era's fascination with the natural world. Note the flamingo dipping its beak into a bucket: this simple act connects to the ancient symbolism of water as life-giving, a theme echoed across cultures, from Egyptian hieroglyphs to Renaissance fountains. Simultaneously, a cat sits by the windowsill, reminiscent of the domestic cat figures in ancient Egyptian art representing grace and watchfulness. The presence of these animals evokes a psychological landscape, a fusion of the familiar and the foreign. They are symbols that resonate with our collective memory, revealing how we project our desires and fears onto the natural world. This print captures a moment where the exotic and the everyday meet, inviting viewers to contemplate the complex relationship between humanity and nature.