Illustration til "Fablen om løvens jagt" 1872

Franz Wilhelm Obermann created this illustration for "Fablen om løvens jagt" using printmaking techniques during the 19th century, a time marked by significant social stratification. The image depicts a lion and lioness confronted by a pack of dogs, evoking the era's rigid hierarchies. Consider how the powerful lions, symbols of aristocracy, are challenged by the dogs, perhaps representing the emerging middle class or the working class. The tension in their confrontation reflects the social unrest simmering in 19th-century Europe. The fable itself would likely have carried moral or political undertones, and Obermann's illustration brings those themes to life visually. It invites us to reflect on power dynamics, social justice, and the emotional experience of witnessing such a confrontation. In doing so, it develops a narrative on societal structures.