Ziet dees beesten mee haar vier / Gemaakt tot ons pleyzier 1725 - 1780

This woodcut, "Ziet dees beesten mee haar vier / Gemaakt tot ons pleyzier" by Johannes Kannewet, presents a quartet of creatures within separate, box-like frames. Each animal – a bird, a magpie, a goat, and a horse – is rendered with coarse lines and minimal detail, their forms roughly hewn against a stark, neutral background. The composition, divided into quadrants, suggests a structured, almost taxonomic approach to representing the natural world. Yet, this sense of order is disrupted by the crudeness of the execution, particularly the somewhat awkward rendering of the animals. The limited color palette, restricted to blacks, browns, and blues, reinforces the print’s simplicity and directness. Kannewet’s choice of medium and style reflects a certain artistic intention, perhaps to challenge or subvert the more refined, academic artistic norms of the time. It invites us to consider how art can operate as a critical or parodic tool. The unrefined nature of the woodcut then, functions as part of a broader cultural and philosophical discourse on representation and the role of the artist.