Der Salamander 

Hans Canon painted this intriguing scene, “Der Salamander,” sometime in the late 19th century. It depicts two men intensely examining a salamander on a tabletop with various tools. Canon lived during a time of rising scientific inquiry, but the image hints at the complexities of knowledge production. The men, distinguished by age and dress, evoke a sense of scholarly pursuit typical of the era. However, their intense scrutiny of the creature raises questions about the power dynamics inherent in observation and classification, particularly within the context of 19th-century scientific and social hierarchies. Is the salamander a symbol of something more? Perhaps the "other" being dissected and investigated under the guise of scientific advancement. Canon seems to ask us, what does it mean to truly see, and what are the implications of how we choose to look?