The Wolf & the Lamb – A Parody on Mr. Mulready's highly popular Picture 1838

This print, made by John Doyle, presents us with a parody deeply rooted in symbolic tension. Look at the title, “The Wolf & the Lamb.” Here, we see the age-old motif of predator and prey, a narrative that stretches back through countless fables and moral tales. Consider the wolf, often a symbol of cunning and aggression, juxtaposed with the lamb, embodying innocence and vulnerability. This pairing evokes a primeval fear, a recognition of the inherent dangers lurking in our world, much like the anxieties present in the medieval "danse macabre." Notice how Doyle plays with this dichotomy, the wolf's predatory nature is somewhat softened; but the lamb remains fearful. This subversion of expectations taps into our collective memory, inviting us to question the stability of these archetypes. Perhaps, Doyle suggests, the lines between victim and aggressor are not as clear as we believe. This tension engages viewers on a subconscious level, stirring both fear and a strange sense of recognition. Thus, the symbol of the wolf and the lamb is presented not as a linear progression, but as a cyclical return, a constant renegotiation of power, innocence, and threat throughout human history.