Waakzaamheid en deugdbetrachting, bronnen van geluk en vreugd, / Worden in deez fabelprenten, u verkondigd, lieve jeugd!

This undated print by Johan Noman, now at the Rijksmuseum, presents visual fables imparting virtues of vigilance and virtuous conduct to youth. Dominant motifs include animals like foxes and chickens set in moralizing scenes. Take the fox, depicted here in various wily scenarios, such as preying on chickens. The figure of the fox, as a symbol of cunning and deceit, extends back to Aesop's fables, resurfacing throughout medieval bestiaries, embodying human failings and vices. We see the fox again and again through time. Think of Reynard the Fox in the Middle Ages, and even modern interpretations. The fox becomes a vessel for social commentary, its deceitful nature reflecting societal ills. Such continuity reveals the enduring psychological power of these symbols; our collective memory imprints on these creatures the weight of cultural anxieties, making them effective vehicles for teaching morality. These images evoke a response tied to deeply rooted fears and expectations, engaging viewers at a subconscious level.