Cartouche van de slang Ourobouros 1807

"Cartouche van de slang Ourobouros" is an 1807 etching by Dutch artist Izaak Jansz. de Wit. This intricate design features a serpent ouroboros, a symbolic creature that represents the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. The ouroboros is intertwined with a cartouche, a decorative oval shape often used to hold inscriptions, in this case, the title "De Twaalf Maanden," or "The Twelve Months." This piece, now in the Rijksmuseum, highlights de Wit's skill in etching, creating a delicate and detailed image within the confines of the relatively small dimensions of 203 mm by 235 mm. The etching was likely a tribute to the Dutch painter Jacob Cats, whose artwork, "De Twaalf Maanden," is mentioned within the cartouche.