Hoektanden van een beer en tand van een hyena before 1869

This monochrome print presents a set of teeth isolated against a stark black background, creating a composition that is both scientific and strangely evocative. The textured surfaces of the teeth, each uniquely shaped and numbered, command our attention. These canines, identified as belonging to a bear and hyena, are meticulously arranged, inviting a formal comparison. The artist captures not just the form but also the implicit history etched into each object. Their arrangement can be seen as a system, a primitive grid that implies a study, an almost taxonomic order, yet it exists without a clear hierarchy, blurring our understanding of natural order versus human categorization. In essence, the artwork challenges our traditional views of beauty and value, urging us to reconsider the silent narratives held within these ancient artifacts. The teeth, now symbols divorced from their original context, prompt a dialogue about time, representation, and our continuous endeavor to impose structure on the natural world.