Koning valt uit een boom 1722 - 1784

This engraving, made by Simon Fokke in the 18th century, depicts a king tumbling from a tree, his crown askew, cape flailing, a scene of comical misfortune. But, look closer, and you'll see ethereal figures dancing amongst the leaves – a motif ripe with symbolic possibility. This fall is not merely physical, but symbolic, echoing the fall from grace, a theme recurrent throughout art history. Consider Icarus, plummeting from the sky, or the countless depictions of the expulsion from Paradise. This motif reappears across cultures, each time imbued with a fresh emotional weight. The dancing figures, though seemingly benign, might evoke a deeper, subconscious unease, perhaps symbolizing the fickle nature of fortune, or the lurking chaos that undermines even the most secure positions. This engraving, therefore, is not just a simple scene but a potent symbol, resonating with our collective memory of power, vulnerability, and the ever-turning wheel of fate.