Liggend dier, mogelijk een leeuw 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls captured this sketch of a resting lion, likely on paper, sometime between 1824 and 1911. The lion, king of beasts, embodies strength, courage, and regality. Its image echoes through history, from ancient Egyptian deities like Sekhmet to the biblical Lion of Judah. Here, the lion’s relaxed posture belies its inherent power, a tension felt across cultures. Consider the lion gate at Mycenae. There, the lion is a guardian, a protector. But look at Renaissance paintings; the lion becomes a symbol of pride, often accompanying noble figures. This shift is telling. What was once a primal force transforms into a marker of social status, a mirror reflecting humanity's evolving self-image. Our collective memory imbues this image with layers of meaning, a subconscious dance between fear and admiration. Though simple, this lion resonates, embodying a cultural memory stretching back millennia, a testament to the enduring power of symbols.