There is much reason to believe that Neanderthal man, the humanoid species that was replaced by Homo Sapiens (that's us), worshipped bears over 100,000 years ago. Later, of course, animals were domesticated, used for labor and pets as well as, for food and clothing. All the same, the magical power of animals has never gone away, and they are almost always used in art to suggest something beyond just: "Here's a tiger."

Baby animals, like the little fox peeking from behind the plant on the Algerian banknote, often make us feel protective and nurturing. Whereas, powerful and/or predatory animals symbolize those qualities of strength or aggression. Animals are almost always a substitute of some sort for human beings, whether in stories like Aesop's Fables or Br'er Rabbit, or as symbols of qualities we value or would like to possess.

Can you think of any animal pictures you have seen which make you feel some sort of emotion?

 Activity: Make your own art book. Gather pictures of animals. Label them and describe how they make you feel or what they might symbolize.