Os en een ezel 1652 - 1659

This etching of an ox and a donkey was created by Karel du Jardin sometime in the 17th century. The scene is a seemingly simple one – a cow standing in the landscape, with a donkey suckling from her. But consider: the motif of the nurturing animal is ancient, stretching back to the very roots of civilization. Think of the she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, a symbol of primal nourishment and the founding of Rome itself. The ox, a symbol of strength and sustenance, here offers life to the donkey, an animal often associated with humility and toil. This unexpected pairing touches on the deep-seated human need for nurturing, a symbol which transcends cultural and religious boundaries, and reminds us of the enduring power of maternal care.