Schedel van een oeros, achterhoofd before 1869

Here we see an image of the skull of an aurochs—an ancient breed of wild cattle—created by an anonymous artist. While the artist and date remain unknown, this image serves as a historical artifact, reflecting evolving attitudes toward nature and humanity's place within it. Consider how encounters with such remains might have stirred the imagination, blending scientific inquiry with myth-making. In earlier eras, the discovery of aurochs skulls could have easily been woven into local folklore, perhaps even linked to tales of mythical beasts. Moreover, this image silently speaks to the dynamics of power and control over the natural world. The aurochs, once roaming freely, now exists as a specimen, a captured image within the frame. It prompts us to reflect on the narratives we construct around extinct species and what these stories tell us about our own fleeting existence.