Sow and Piglets in a Sty 

George Morland’s painting shows a sow and her piglets in a sty. The grouping of animals can be seen as a representation of fertility, family, and rustic simplicity, themes that are deeply rooted in human culture. The pig, though often associated with baser instincts, has also appeared as a symbol of abundance and good fortune across cultures. Think of the cornucopia, where images of well-fed animals are an emblem of prosperity and natural bounty. Yet, the symbolism is complex. In other contexts, the pig is a sign of gluttony and impurity. One cannot avoid this double coding. Consider how these contrasting associations play out over time. The sow and her piglets are not merely a scene of rural life but a tableau rich with symbolic weight, revealing the continuous, cyclical progression of symbols, their evolution, and their adaptation across different historical contexts. The image engages us on a primal, subconscious level.