Reynard rides in pomp on horseback accompanied by bear and wolf c. 17th century

Editor: This is Allart van Everdingen's "Reynard rides in pomp on horseback accompanied by bear and wolf." It's a small print, yet it feels like a grand procession. What do you see in this piece, especially regarding the characters? Curator: The image taps into deep cultural memories. The fox, Reynard, is a trickster figure, a symbol of cunning. Note the bear and wolf; they aren't merely companions, but representations of brute force and savagery brought under Reynard's control. Editor: So, it's more than just a depiction of animals? Curator: Precisely. The image evokes ideas of social hierarchy and the manipulation of power. The choice of animals, their roles – it all speaks to anxieties about societal order. What do you make of the horse? Editor: That’s fascinating! I hadn't considered the symbolic weight of each animal. The horse seems unwilling to carry Reynard. I guess that reinforces the idea of a forced or unnatural order. Curator: Exactly! These persistent visual metaphors allow us to interpret and reinterpret across time.