Gemalte Tiere

On the border between art and zoology lie the animal portraits that have surprised audiences since the Renaissance. Our collection of images, aimed at both scientists and artists, as well as children and adults alike, showcases 61 animal representations that have made their mark in both the history of painting and zoology. These are sensational animals that found their way to Europe with the discovery of distant continents – painted, scientifically classified, or presented as living specimens. They left humanity in awe, such as the rhinoceros Clara, which was the impetus for this book. Like many other exotic animals, it was showcased in the markets and fairs of Europe in the mid-18th century to a sensation-hungry audience. Our collection "from hare to hare" begins with familiar animals like Dürer's field hare, whose charm lies in the style and vibrancy of its depiction, includes birds from both the New and Old Worlds, a Korean tiger, and mythical creatures like the unicorn, and concludes with Beuys's golden hare. It features an introduction along with stories and comments from explorers, researchers, and historians about each animal and its image. Sixty-one images from Albrecht Dürer, Jean-Baptiste Oudry, George Stubbs, Gustave Courbet, Franz Marc, Paul Klee, Jeff Wall, and many others.