Liggend luipaard, van voren gezien, de poten naar rechts c. 1657 - 1811

This is an etching of a resting leopard, seen from the front, its legs extending to the right, made by an anonymous artist. Consider the historical context: animal imagery in art has long been a way to explore human attributes and societal roles. This representation may echo the European colonial gaze, where the animal kingdom becomes a symbol for the exotic 'other,' and the unknown. The leopard, in its pose of repose, does not appear threatening but is presented as a spectacle, a subject of observation. The artist's choice to remain anonymous complicates our understanding. Who were they? What was their relationship with the culture that produced this image? The emotional impact of the print lies in this tension between the animal's inherent wildness and its depiction as a passive object. The work invites us to think about how we perceive and represent the natural world, and what power dynamics are embedded in these representations.