Het varken moet in zijn kot 1568 - 1652

Curator: Ah, I see you're drawn to this curious print titled "Het varken moet in zijn kot," which translates to "The pig must go back to its sty." It's attributed to Wierix and was created sometime between 1568 and 1652. It’s currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Immediately, what strikes me is this incredible feeling of claustrophobia. A man being forcibly pushed, or rather dragged, back into some sort of hovel. And that circle containing the scene… it’s like looking through a peep-hole at some sordid affair. Curator: Precisely. Wierix employs the circular format and intricate engraving to create a concentrated drama. Notice the expressions of the figures; that collective anxiety is palpable. What symbols do you read in this particular print? Editor: The most immediate symbol for me is, of course, the pig itself, or rather the suggestion of it. We only see its snout and ears inside the "sty." In Western iconography, the pig often represents base instincts, the lower self, lacking in reason and control. So is the man being forced back into a state of brutishness? Curator: It's tempting to see it that way, but I also think about proverbs. This title resonates like a stern lesson, a reining in of behaviour. Perhaps a cautionary tale about the consequences of excess or transgression? Editor: Possibly. The fact that the man is being physically restrained suggests a lack of agency. His fate isn't entirely in his own hands. And the expressions! A mix of grim determination and fear. They’re caught in the spectacle of trying to push this individual into the Pig Pen... Is this a comment on social conformity? Are those in the back the people that perpetuate society's expectations and its social conformity rules? Curator: The societal pressures, without doubt. Perhaps even the idea that our primal desires always threaten to drag us down. Notice how expertly Wierix captures the texture and emotions, quite fascinating for a little print! Editor: Absolutely. What this small work leaves me pondering is that maybe the “sty” isn’t just a physical place, but a state of mind. Curator: It truly does invite such contemplation. These old proverbs, how they worm their way into artistic visual interpretation is astonishing!