Fabel van de hond en de gier 1769

"Fabel van de hond en de gier" (1769) by Simon Fokke (1712-1784) is an etching depicting a dog sniffing at a bone while a vulture circles overhead. This small-scale print, housed in the Rijksmuseum, uses fine lines to create a detailed landscape scene. Fokke, a Dutch artist known for his animal and genre scenes, likely chose this subject to depict the classic fable about the dog who lost its bone to a greedy vulture. The setting, likely a Dutch riverbank, is depicted with realism, showcasing Fokke's skill in rendering natural forms. This etching is an example of the rich tradition of animal fables in art, which served as a means of moral instruction and storytelling.