Renard Goes with the Badger to Court to Appease the Lion's Anger from Hendrick van Alcmar's Renard The Fox 1650 - 1675

Curator: Here we have "Renard Goes with the Badger to Court to Appease the Lion's Anger" created sometime between 1650 and 1675. The artist is Allart van Everdingen and it's an etching, engraving and print of some kind, now residing at the Metropolitan Museum. What catches your eye initially? Editor: Well, immediately, I sense a kind of agitated energy. There’s a dynamic flurry in what's presented, which seems more dramatic than appeasing. Curator: It’s one of several works Everdingen made illustrating the medieval tale of Renard the Fox. This particular scene depicts Renard, the fox, in the company of a badger, journeying to court to placate the Lion’s anger. Editor: The horses, seemingly caught mid-gallop or mid-buck, really underscore the tension you mentioned, don't they? Are they symbolic, or more literal? Curator: Ah, now that's a fascinating question. While the horses aren't directly characters from the Renard tale, animals in these kinds of narratives often embody human traits or social classes. Given the story revolves around courtly intrigue, these horses perhaps represent nobility caught up in Renard's machinations. The animals themselves can each function as signifiers of different aspects of character— the clever fox, the honest badger, the powerful lion. Editor: Yes! The fox is an old archetype with layers of associations. Here, he isn't simply tricking the powerful lion, it looks like something has already happened between them, that this is a journey to make amends of some kind. Curator: Precisely. And Everdingen’s use of etching and engraving to create the image—those fine, sharp lines—adds to the impression of intricate plots and hidden meanings. Every detail feels deliberate, like a piece of a larger, more complex puzzle. It allows an intimate glimpse into both social commentary, the timeless play of power dynamics that's always happening in these narratives. Editor: Looking closer, it strikes me how modern it feels. The idea of animals acting as surrogates for human foibles…it's echoed even today in animation and storytelling. Thank you for unfolding the narrative threads and hidden symbolism, it really enhances my understanding.