Stekelvarken door honden aangevallen 1679

Curator: Immediately, I’m struck by the drama of this print. There’s something almost comical about the conflict. Editor: Yes, that dynamism is brilliantly captured in this 1679 etching and engraving, titled *Stekelvarken door honden aangevallen*, or *Porcupine Attacked by Dogs*. We’re unfortunately unsure of the artist's identity. Curator: An anonymous Baroque narrative – that sounds about right. It definitely places these animals within a broader societal context about vulnerability, defense mechanisms, and the instinct for survival. The porcupine’s struggle seems a poignant, if somewhat unsettling, representation of marginalized identities against aggressive forces. Editor: You know, it makes me wonder... I see a hapless creature backed into a corner by these tenacious dogs. It makes you wonder, what would you do, you know? The spiky, prickly mess looks terrified and so alone, like that feeling of walking into the wrong party. It has this raw vulnerability that sucks me right in. I notice the contrast of that poor scared beast against the rich natural world, almost indifferent to its peril. Curator: I think situating this in its historical context – the late 17th century – it's compelling to examine the ways animal representations intersected with colonial narratives and burgeoning scientific explorations of the natural world. Consider, for instance, the concept of "otherness," a recurring theme in post-colonial theory; the porcupine, exotic and unfamiliar to many Europeans, might serve as a metaphor for the colonized. The chasing dogs – stand-ins for those expanding forces of empire perhaps? Editor: I suppose… But sometimes a scrappy porcupine fighting for its life in an etching, is well, just that, you know? I mean, look at the wild energy conveyed through those incredible lines! You can almost hear the barking, the snarls, feel the desperation in that little spikey body! It feels…honest and true. Like the artist tapped into something primal in us. Curator: Indeed. Even within that supposed ‘honesty,’ are societal and power dynamics always present? What choices do we make about which animals – which beings - merit our protection? It speaks volumes, doesn't it? Editor: Right. Even after all this time. It still holds that question, what does survival really look like when the odds are stacked so high against you. Gives you something to think about.