Animalism

Animalism — a special branch of fine art dedicated to the depiction of animals. Artists, sculptors, and masters of decorative and applied arts create images of beasts, birds, fish, and insects, conveying movements, plasticity, and even the character of the model.

In different eras, animalistic art had different meanings: in ancient Egypt, animals were symbols of gods, in the Middle Ages they were often associated with allegories and myths. In the 19th century, the genre flourished — one can recall the realistic works of Rosa Bonheur or George Stubbs. Porcelain figurines of dogs, horses, and exotic animals were popular in the 19th–20th centuries at various manufactories.

Interestingly, many zoologists served as consultants to artists: painter Edwin Landseer often worked at the zoo, and at the Hermitage, there were delays in opening exhibitions due to difficulties with transporting... live models for studies! Animalistic art teaches one to see the nuances of nature and the unique "handwriting" of each animal.