Verkeerde wereld c. 1625 - 1666

This anonymous print, titled 'Verkeerde Wereld', presents a topsy-turvy world through a series of vignettes. The symbols within are inversions of the natural order, challenging our accepted norms. Notice, for instance, the image of the animal in charge of their supposed masters. Here, the ox pulls the farmer in his cart and a horse carries a man on its back. Such reversals are not new, echoing through the ages in various forms – from medieval carnivals, where social hierarchies were temporarily upended, to ancient myths, where animals often possess human traits and wisdom. The ‘world turned upside down’ motif is a potent expression of cultural anxieties. It touches on collective memories of chaos and the subconscious desire for renewal. Like a recurring dream, this symbol resurfaces, reminding us of the fragility of order and the ever-present potential for change.