Ei kinders wilt dit gedierte bekyken / Niemand zal van zyn plaats afwyken 1806 - 1830

This unsigned print, attributed to Johan Noman, presents a fascinating grid of twenty-four images, each depicting a different animal within a square frame. The work, crafted with etching, emphasizes line and form over color, creating a stark, graphic quality. Each animal is rendered with a simplicity that borders on the emblematic, prompting us to consider how these forms function as signs within a larger symbolic system. The composition, organized as a grid, is itself a structuring principle, inviting us to decode the relationships between the images. Do these juxtapositions create a visual taxonomy, a classification of the natural world that reflects specific cultural values? The interplay between each animal and their representative proverb challenges fixed notions of nature. Consider, for instance, how the artist deploys perspective and scale to emphasize certain qualities. These formal choices are not merely aesthetic; they actively shape our understanding and interpretation of the work. Ultimately, this print destabilizes any singular meaning, offering instead a rich field for ongoing interpretation.