Ziet hier vertoond dier fabel-prenten vol van zinnen / Om het leerzame kind / al stichtende te vermaaken 1725 - 1780

This fable print, made by Johannes Kannewet in Amsterdam, presents a world where animals enact human follies, inviting us to reflect on our own nature. The recurring motif of the animal trap here speaks volumes. Observe how in one scene, rats surround a cage-like contraption, mirroring a similar scene of a wolf attacking another animal in the final panel. This symbol, the trap, transcends its literal form to embody themes of deceit, vulnerability, and the consequences of unchecked desires. The image taps into a primal fear of entrapment. The cultural psyche has long associated traps with the darker aspects of human nature and society. Consider the cyclical nature of these fables: the hunted becomes the hunter, and the victimizer is eventually victimized. This speaks to a recurring theme throughout history—a cyclical recurrence, a pendulum swing between freedom and constraint, action and consequence. Kannewet’s print reminds us that these age-old stories continue to resonate because they capture timeless aspects of the human condition, reappearing in different eras.