Fabel van de onenigheid 1758

Johann Heinrich Meil created this print called "Fable of Discord" at some point in the late 18th century. The image depicts a winged figure recoiling in horror from a man holding a fiery torch. Such fables were common in this period in Europe, often used to convey moral or political messages. The image speaks to the social conditions of its time by allegorizing the dangers of conflict. In the era of the Enlightenment, the print subtly comments on contemporary debates about the nature of political and social harmony. It does so by using classical imagery, such as the figure with the torch, to give the scene a timeless quality. It also draws on earlier artistic conventions of mythological painting. To fully understand the print, we can research the artist, the publisher, and the cultural context in which it was made, examining popular literature and political discourse. It's important to remember that the meaning of this image is not fixed but is contingent on its social and institutional context.