Man met kat en muis 1613 - 1656

This engraving was made by Cornelis Danckerts, likely in the Dutch Republic during the first half of the 17th century. It depicts a man with a cat perched on his head and a dead mouse dangling from his hand. The print offers us a window into the complex social fabric of the Netherlands during its Golden Age, a time of great prosperity but also stark social inequalities. The image is filled with visual and cultural clues, hinting at a critique of societal imbalances. The contrast between the man’s disheveled appearance and the cat’s privileged position suggests an inversion of the natural order. The dead mouse serves as a memento mori, reminding us of the fleeting nature of life. Understanding this work requires looking into the period’s emblem books and popular proverbs. These sources help decode the symbolism embedded in the image, providing valuable insight into the social commentary being offered.