Fabel van de boer en zijn ezel; Zowel de boer als zijn zoon zitten op de ezel 1627 - 1628

Editor: So, here we have "Fable of the Farmer and his Donkey," made sometime between 1627 and 1628 by Wenceslaus Hollar. It's an engraving, a detailed little print. It seems to be poking fun at… well, I'm not sure what. What do you see going on here? Curator: Oh, I see a delicious paradox layered within this image! It’s that exquisite agony of trying to please everyone, isn't it? This father and son, crushed under the weight of public opinion. But I wonder, is it truly about pleasing others, or is it the quiet struggle with their own convictions? Baroque art loved those hidden philosophical treats, wrapped in everyday scenes, like finding a dark chocolate truffle inside a humble croissant. What do you think is the meaning of that imposing castle in the background? Editor: That's interesting... I hadn’t really considered that aspect. It's a pretty striking element in the background, like they are being watched or judged, and maybe they're striving to arrive. I don't know. Curator: Precisely! It could be symbolic, maybe of the standards set by society... rigid, stone, almost unachievable, and their behavior being constantly weighed against those cold, hard ramparts. The futility of conformity, dressed up in linen and riding on a poor overburdened donkey! And, Hollar captured it all with such exquisite detail using just lines. Editor: It gives you a lot to think about... thanks, I like your dark truffle croissant comparison. Curator: It’s a metaphor that speaks to my soul, always hiding profound things within ordinary shapes. Perhaps we’re all farmers on donkeys in the end.