Christ and the Apostles on the Road to Emmaus, with Birds and Monkeys 1582 - 1586

Editor: This is Adriaen Collaert's "Christ and the Apostles on the Road to Emmaus, with Birds and Monkeys," a small engraving from the late 16th or early 17th century. The detail is incredible! What strikes you most about the imagery used here? Curator: Notice how the central biblical scene is framed by flora, fauna, even monkeys. These elements, seemingly decorative, carried symbolic weight. Birds often represented the soul, monkeys were associated with imitation and earthly desires. Editor: So, the border isn’t just ornamentation? Curator: Exactly. Collaert uses these symbols to subtly comment on the human condition, the spiritual journey, and perhaps even the challenges of faith itself, enriching our reading of the scene. What do you think about that? Editor: That’s fascinating; I would never have considered how those symbols are intertwined with the narrative. I’ll definitely look at art differently now.