How have the decorative arts portrayed animals, as motifs and symbols, down the centuries? This important exhibition presents 450 objects from the collections of the Arts Décoratifs, charting the complex relationship between man and beast. In the hands of skilled artisans, snakes become pitcher handles, does' feet become table legs, fish become serving-dishes, a horse becomes a standard lamp. The fashion world uses the leopardskin motif to appropriate the animal's beauty and mystery, as well as its dangerous, predatory quality.
Felines, cattle or fabulous sea creatures are everywhere, from advertising to caricatures and clothes. Shunned or venerated, real or imaginary, animal motifs reflect our own animal nature, our fantasies and fears; Aristotle's definition of their character traits is rooted in our collective imagination: "Some are gentle, peaceful, and not violent, as the ox. […] Others, as the lion, are liberal, noble, and generous." In the tradition of Aesop and La Fontaine, they are the mirror of mankind, incarnations of the darker and lighter side of human nature.
This exceptional exhibition highlights the creativity and expertise of artisans down the centuries, making it a natural choice for support from the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès.
