Schepping van de dieren 1781 - 1836

This print, "Creation of the Animals," was made by Jozef Karel De Meulemeester. The hexagonally shaped composition, rendered in monochromatic tones, depicts a teeming landscape of animals surrounding a central, draped figure. The piece evokes a sense of ordered abundance, each creature meticulously placed within the frame. Note how Meulemeester creates a structured hierarchy. The central figure, likely representing a deity, stands with arms outstretched, seemingly commanding the natural order. This figure acts as a focal point, dividing the composition into mirrored halves. The animals, ranging from the familiar to the fantastical, are arranged in a complex tapestry of forms, creating a sense of depth and perspective. This structured arrangement speaks to the prevailing Enlightenment-era fascination with taxonomy and classification. The print does not merely depict creation but seeks to categorize and organize the natural world, reflecting a desire to impose order on the perceived chaos of existence. This structured composition is not simply aesthetic, it is a statement about knowledge, control, and the human relationship to the environment.