Een aantal dieren ziet gij hier, verschillende van aard, / Zoo als een tijger en een schaap, een ezel en een paard 1819 - 1840

This undated print by Alexander Cranendoncq, whose life spanned the tumultuous years of post-revolution Europe, presents an array of animals in a seemingly straightforward manner. Yet, within its simple composition lies a reflection of the complex societal values of the time. The ordering of the animals, each presented with a veneer of scientific observation, hints at a hierarchical structure mirroring the social strata of the 19th century. Consider how each animal is defined by its perceived usefulness or symbolic value within the human sphere. The horse and sheep represent domestication and subservience, while the lion and tiger stand for untamed power. The depiction of each animal carries the weight of cultural interpretation. It invites us to reflect on how humans project their values onto the animal kingdom. Cranendoncq's print prompts us to consider the narratives we construct around nature and the ways in which these narratives are inevitably intertwined with our own identities and histories. How do we understand the "natural world" in relation to the social world?