Man betrapt ekster met munt in de bek 1836

Editor: This is “Man betrapt ekster met munt in de bek,” or, “Man catches magpie with coin in its beak,” by Johannes Steyn, created in 1836. It's an engraving and reminds me of a scene from a fable. It feels simple, almost like a line drawing, but there's a clear narrative happening. What do you see in this piece, looking at it from a fable standpoint? Curator: Oh, fables! Those sneaky little tales packed with morals… Yes, Steyn here presents us with a miniature drama, doesn't he? The stark lines lend a kind of…starkness to the scene, a no-nonsense unveiling of wrongdoing. That magpie, perched jauntily, practically flaunting its ill-gotten gains. Editor: Exactly! So the man bursting in, it’s not just a simple act. Curator: Not at all! It’s about exposing hypocrisy, about the disruption of the natural order - birds shouldn't steal coins, should they? It's like Aesop decided to try his hand at minimalist set design. I mean, look at how the light falls, sharply dividing innocence from guilt...or what appears to be guilt. Editor: I see that! It is about exposing things. I almost wonder about those objects on the table, near the bird, some sort of clue. The skull maybe pointing out life lessons here. Curator: Intriguing thought! That skull, ever the symbol of mortality. Is Steyn suggesting that even petty theft leads us down a dark path? Maybe this whole thing’s a miniature memento mori, urging us towards honesty. Though I can’t quite imagine the man's anger over such a small theft.. It's that the fable makes you see the deeper story. Editor: That’s a whole new way of viewing the print that I had not seen. Thank you! Curator: And thank you! It seems a pilfered coin can indeed unlock quite a trove of interpretations, can’t it? Fables have a funny way of doing that!