Kermis-os 1757 - 1781

This print, "Kermis-os," by Barent Koene, made in Amsterdam, presents us with an ox adorned for the Kermis, a type of Dutch fair. The ox, a symbol of abundance and fertility, is decked with floral garlands, suggesting a celebration of nature's bounty. But let us delve deeper: the veneration of the bull stretches back into the ancient world, from the Cretan bull cults to the Egyptian Apis. What primal impulse drives this recurring motif? The bull, a potent symbol of virility and strength, reappears in the Minotaur of Greek myth, a beast lurking in the labyrinth of our subconscious. Over time, the symbolic meaning of the bull has evolved. In some contexts, it represents sacrifice and redemption, while in others, it embodies raw, untamed power. The floral garlands, too, echo ancient fertility rites, connecting this image to a long lineage of human celebrations of life and renewal. This ox embodies both physical strength and ephemeral beauty, engaging us on a deep, emotional level.