Spotprent met een leeuw en een hondje, 1884 1884

This print by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, created in 1884, depicts a lion facing a small dog. The lion, traditionally symbolizing courage and strength, stands here as a figure of authority. The dog, likely a poodle, is a symbol of domesticity and subservience. These symbols are not static; they evolve. Consider the Lion Gate of Mycenae, dating back to 1300 BC, where lions guard a sacred entrance, demonstrating power and divine protection. Here, our lion is juxtaposed with a domesticated dog, altering the symbol’s dynamic. This contrast engages our subconscious. The image evokes questions of dominance and submission, of the wild versus the tamed. It subtly suggests that historical progression entails a shift in power dynamics. These archetypes resonate, tapping into collective memories of power, control, and adaptation, continually reshaped through time.