Leeuw en leeuwin before 1870

This drawing, "Lion and Lioness," was created by Joseph Zephyris Gengembre. The artwork is a study in contrasts, mainly through its monochromatic palette and its texture. Gengembre masterfully employs shadow and light to give depth to the lion's fur, making it appear almost tangible. The composition is structured around the gaze of the two animals; one looking out, and the other slightly askance. Gengembre's technique reflects a broader 19th-century interest in realism and detailed observation, consistent with the broader artistic trends of his time. Yet, we should ask ourselves, how do these depictions reflect cultural meanings? How does the positioning of the animals within their den impact our understanding of their 'wildness' or 'domesticity'? Consider the gaze, the light, and the interplay between the wild and the composed, and you may find yourselves questioning the assumed relationship between the observer, the observed, and the meaning we ascribe to the natural world.