Vaas met muis 1856 - 1897

This is "Vaas met muis" by Henri-Charles Guérard, an etching now residing in the Rijksmuseum. At first glance, the image presents a simple scene: a mouse perched atop a vase, gazing at the moon. But observe closely: the mouse, historically a symbol of destruction and plague, looks upwards to the celestial orb that has symbolised purity across cultures. The motif of the rodent appears in Aesop's fables, often representing the underdog or the resourceful survivor. One might recall medieval tapestries where animals take on human characteristics to satirize society, or even Egyptian art, where animals were sacred symbols embodying divine attributes. The image is emotionally complex, evoking a sense of loneliness, or perhaps awe. What we see here is the cultural memory of symbols, their emotional weight passed down through generations, resurfacing in unexpected forms, constantly shifting and transforming.