PAIGE O'HARA:
This porcelain lion was made for Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland. Augustus was obsessed with porcelain and founded the Meissen manufactory. He ordered a menagerie of 600 animals from them, including this lion designed by Johann Gottlieb Kirchner.

Take a close look at the lion’s eyes, which speak to a larger story. In the 18th century, philosophers debated whether animals had souls and, therefore, feelings. If so, some believed that this was expressed through their facial expressions, particularly the eyes. Kirchner tried to communicate this lion’s monarchical nature through his raised eyebrows. But the effect is more melancholy than regal, highlighting the challenges artists face when anthropomorphizing animals.

Eyes speak volumes for people, too. Nearby, is a portrait of Magdalena Gonzáles. Her father, Pedro, was brought to Paris from the Canary Islands and their family lived at various European courts. Several family members, including Pedro and Magdalena, were afflicted with a genetic condition causing excess hair. They participated in court life, but weren’t treated as human equals. Instead, they were seen as curiosities, often equated to animals. Magdalena’s story is one of alienation and oppression, and in this portrait, it’s her eyes that convey her humanity with great poignancy.

When drawing the Beast, Disney animator Glen Keane equally paid special attention to depicting the eyes, as he attempted to convey the character’s humanity.