Moraal uit het dierenleven c. 1843 - 1920

Curator: Today we are looking at “Moraal uit het Dierenleven,” which translates to "Morals from Animal Life". This print by Max Haider dates from sometime between 1843 and 1920 and belongs to the genre of narrative art. Editor: Oh, it's an intriguing compilation of little worlds! Very quaint and…old-world. There's something so orderly about it, all these tiny engraved vignettes arranged neatly. Curator: It is orderly, yes, almost like a bestiary or a series of fables laid out. Notice how each scene illustrates an animal enacting a different scenario – each meant to teach a lesson. You see little dramas, aren’t they? Editor: I do! Almost like snapshots from Aesop's Instagram, if he had access to copper plates, a burin, and a mischievous sense of humor! There is a bear stealing honey and geese teaching a very attentive cluster of young’uns to eat! Curator: Precisely. Each scene carries its own moral weight. Look closely and see the symbolism at play. The caged animal, the birds clustered in the tree. It all speaks to concepts of freedom, community, and societal expectations, echoed across different cultural narratives. Editor: It's fascinating how animals serve as these blank slates onto which we project our own societal norms. Makes you wonder what future historians will think when they decode our own contemporary digital "bestiaries"... what will our cat memes say about us?! Curator: Ha! A weighty question indeed! Consider the level of detail achievable via engraving. It was about illustrating core tenants about being and social contract. The layout invites comparison, and ultimately reflection, doesn’t it? Editor: Absolutely, you’re invited into this kind of slow read, really digest each little lesson. I mean it makes you kind of reflect on the morals we tell ourselves now, so… Curator: True, “Morals from Animal Life” still manages to resonate through time, reminding us of the enduring power of narrative to shape our understanding. It uses simple allegories. But ultimately asks, “how should one live?” Editor: It is an important point, there’s always that human desire to create meaning in every little aspect, but these pieces also have that human element in them too…the little moments. Thanks for pulling it out.