The Rooster Accuses Renard of the Murder of One of His Chickens from Hendrick van Alcmar's Renard The Fox 1635 - 1675

Allart van Everdingen made this etching, ‘The Rooster Accuses Renard of the Murder of One of His Chickens’, as part of an illustration series. It’s based on the old folk tale 'Renard the Fox'. Made in the Dutch Republic, this image satirizes the political and social dynamics of the time. The fox, Renard, stands accused of killing a chicken. But look closer, and you'll see the court is comprised of other predatory animals, like the bear and lion, who are unlikely to deliver justice. The artist uses animal allegory to comment on the corruption and inequality within human institutions. The story of Renard the Fox was incredibly popular and helped people process anxieties about social mobility and power. By studying prints like this, alongside the original stories and other visual representations of Renard, we can better understand the social and political function of art. It gives insight into the ways people thought about justice and authority in the 17th century.