Bilder Jacob Cats (1577-1660) – Allegory of the fox and the skins – Engraving (1658)

Beskrivning

"Christelycke Bedenckingen. Vanno più pelli di volpi, che d’asini, in pelliciaria." This engraving features a rectangular frame enclosing a circular emblem that depicts a furrier's workshop with various animal skins hanging from the rafters and a fox standing in the foreground. The work belongs to the series Christelycke Bedenckingen, part of the collected works titled Alle de Wercken by Jacob Cats. It was published in Amsterdam by Jan Jacobsz Schipper in 1658. The composition serves as a moral allegory, using the fox and the workshop to comment on mortality and the relative value of worldly cleverness versus simple nature, a characteristic theme of Dutch Golden Age emblem books.

Jacob Cats was a highly influential Dutch poet, jurist, and diplomat who achieved immense popularity through his didactic writings. He is primarily known for his emblem books, which utilized complex imagery and verse to provide moral, religious, and domestic instruction to the Dutch public. His cultural impact was so significant that he was affectionately known as Father Cats, as his volumes were found in almost every household in the Netherlands. In addition to his literary career, Cats held high political office, serving as the Grand Pensionary of Holland and playing a vital role in the state's diplomatic and legal affairs.

Artist or Maker: Jacob Cats.

Dimensions: Approximately 40 cm x 25 cm.

Medium: Engraving.

Date: 1658.

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.