this small print with fire salamander is actually a part of a larger block with amphibians and reptiles of Poland.

i was inspired by illustrations by Władysław Siwek you can see next to the print - amazing Polish scientific illustrator and artist who is also known for documenting his time in Auschwitz. if it wasn’t for his art, he wouldn’t have survived - he was forced to create art he didn’t want to make (signs in camps, portraits of the SS), but he also risked his life making thousands of portraits of other prisoners, some of which managed to reach their families - now they’re sadly mostly lost. after the war, he started making illustrations of birds, reptiles and other animals. he was gifted with amazing memory and attention to detail and to this day his science illustrations serve as amazing references.