Twee duiten maar, twee duiten maar, / Dan hebt ge 'er zestien by malkaar, / Geinventeerd met veel geduld, / Door kromme Esopus met de bult 1781 - 1800

This print, made by S. and W. Koene, presents sixteen scenes attributed to Aesop. Note how each panel is a self-contained world, filled with symbolism rooted in ancient wisdom. Consider the recurring motif of animals, each carrying symbolic weight passed down through generations. The fox, the wolf, the lion—archetypes of cunning, hunger, and power. Observe, for example, the image of the wolf, a figure that appears and reappears in art across cultures, from the Roman myth of Romulus and Remus to the dark forests of Northern European folklore. Its symbolism shifts, sometimes representing guardianship and other times, untamed savagery. These shifting symbols and their persistent presence echo a collective memory, stirring subconscious associations. The scenes tap into primal fears and desires, reminding us of the timeless human dramas played out through these characters. Each vignette is a mirror reflecting our own psychological landscape.