Roodkapje kind'ren, u bekend / Wordt bij vernieuwing thans / U voorgesteld in deze prent / Naar 't spreukje van de gans 1848 - 1881

This print by Lutkie & Cranenburg illustrates the tale of Little Red Riding Hood. See the recurring motif of the wolf, a figure that has haunted our collective unconscious for centuries. Here, he lurks in the forest, a symbol of primal fear and untamed nature. This figure is not unique to this tale; the wolf appears in various forms throughout history. In ancient Rome, the myth of Romulus and Remus depicted a nurturing she-wolf, a maternal figure who provided sustenance. But even here, the wolf retains its association with wildness. The metamorphosis of the wolf from a symbol of nurturing to one of predation speaks volumes about our evolving fears and societal structures. This reflects a deep-seated anxiety about the natural world and our place within it. The image captivates us because it taps into these deep-seated fears and desires, reminding us that the boundaries between civilization and wilderness, safety and danger, are ever shifting.