Wildlife before mankind (Die Tierwelt vor dem Menschen)

This illustration depicts a vibrant, dense prehistoric scene filled with a diverse array of extinct creatures spanning various geological eras. In the foreground, a tranquil pond with lily pads sits near a rocky outcrop where a large, sail-backed reptile rests. A long-necked sauropod splashes in the water to the left, while a formidable triceratops grazes near flowering bushes. Moving toward the right, a woolly mammoth and a saber-toothed cat are visible among forest foliage and rocky terrain, hinting at the transition toward the Ice Age.

The composition is layered and complex, sprawling across a wide horizon that shifts from a volcanic, arid landscape on the left to lush, dense forests and distant, snow-capped mountains on the right. Towering brontosaurs rise above the treetops in the center, and a tyrannosaurus rex stands prominently among the trees. Pterosaurs soar in the sky above, adding verticality to the scene. The overall style is that of a detailed, classic natural history painting, utilizing a saturated palette of earthy browns, forest greens, cool blues for the water and sky, and fiery oranges near the distant volcano.