Bos met wolf bij een op de grond liggende man 1834 - 1899

Edmond de Schampheleer made this print of a forest with a wolf and a man on the ground, probably in the second half of the 19th century. The image presents us with an allegory of man's relationship to nature, and the threat it poses. Made in Belgium, a country with strong traditions of landscape painting, its natural scenery would have been increasingly understood through the lens of folklore and Romantic nationalism. The forest served as a powerful symbol of the untamed aspects of nature. The figure of the wolf, with its predatory connotations, highlights the precariousness of human existence. Schampheleer's print invites us to consider how culture shapes our perception of nature. By studying his work, and consulting the written records from the time, we can gain insights into the complex interplay between art, society, and the natural world. The meaning of this artwork is not fixed but is subject to ongoing interpretation.