Reynard talks to another fox on horseback and a bear c. 17th century

Curator: This is Allart van Everdingen’s “Reynard talks to another fox on horseback and a bear.” The etching is held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: I'm struck by the composition; it feels like a stage tableau, almost unnervingly posed. Curator: That stillness is interesting, especially since animal allegories like this are often about satirizing human behavior. Notice how Everdingen uses the fox figure, Reynard, as a symbol of cunning and social critique. Editor: Right, and in this context, I see a pointed commentary on class and power. A fox riding a donkey, while another addresses him and a bear looks on. Curator: Precisely! The arrangement, the gaze, it all reflects a rigid hierarchy, a power dynamic made visible through these animal figures. Editor: It's fascinating how these old stories of animals can be understood through shifting social lenses. It all remains so relevant!