Skaden og grisen; De to katte 1845

This print by Adolph Kittendorff features two seemingly unrelated scenes, both rich in symbolic potential. Let’s first consider the pig, an animal long associated with both prosperity and impurity. The pig appears in numerous cultural contexts, from ancient fertility rites to medieval Christian art, where it often embodies gluttony. In ancient Greece, the pig was sacrificed to Demeter, goddess of agriculture, in hopes of a bountiful harvest. In contrast, Jewish and Islamic traditions view the pig as unclean, reflecting its ambivalent status in human consciousness. Notice here the pig’s proximity to the cross: could the artist be highlighting an underlying tension between the sacred and the profane? Across from the pig, notice the cats on the fence, a symbol of domesticity. These symbols create a powerful force, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. These motifs persist, evolving in meaning across time.