Fabel van de vos, de aap en andere dieren 1758

This etching of 'The fable of the fox, the monkey and other animals' was made by Johann Heinrich Meil the Elder, likely in Germany, sometime in the 18th century. It’s an illustration of Aesop’s fables, which were very popular in Europe at this time. These fables weren’t just seen as simple stories for kids. They were used to talk about the social order of the time and to comment on human behavior in subtle ways. This etching does the same, using animals to satirize the social and political elites of 18th century Europe. The animals, drawn with a high level of naturalism, represent human types. The fox and monkey are tricksters, while the other animals on the hilltop represent various elite social groups. To truly understand this work, we can research prints and popular literature of the era. These sources will give you a deeper insight into how art was used to reflect, and sometimes challenge, the norms of society.