I don't think VViews was arguing against that kind of comparison, Koen. The statement was specifically about comparing to "modern photographs".
I would agree that the most relevant comparisons would be to medieval drawings (and to some extent to sculptures, which are essentially 3d "drawings"), assuming drawings are meant in the broad sense to include mosaics, stained glass, jewelry designs, etc.
I've seen some jaw-droppingly crazy drawings labeled and described in the text as something other than what they look like. If I had more time, I would have blogged the funniest animals as a quiz, to see if people could recognize them. Sadly, I don't have the time.
I do agree that northerners are far more likely to draw a recognizable sheep than a recognizable scorpion, since most northerners had never seen a scorpion.
I would agree that the most relevant comparisons would be to medieval drawings (and to some extent to sculptures, which are essentially 3d "drawings"), assuming drawings are meant in the broad sense to include mosaics, stained glass, jewelry designs, etc.
I've seen some jaw-droppingly crazy drawings labeled and described in the text as something other than what they look like. If I had more time, I would have blogged the funniest animals as a quiz, to see if people could recognize them. Sadly, I don't have the time.
I do agree that northerners are far more likely to draw a recognizable sheep than a recognizable scorpion, since most northerners had never seen a scorpion.