Reynard the Fox: Reynard Tricks the Wife of the Wolf

Executed as an etching, the work employs fine line work and strong contrasts of light and dark, reminiscent of Baroque chiaroscuro. The careful rendering of foliage and the gradations of shadow give the figures a sense of three‑dimensionality, while the crisp incisions convey narrative detail typical of Dutch printmaking of the period.

Created in 1662, the print was incorporated into van Everdingen’s series on Reynard the Fox, which circulated among collectors interested in literary subjects. The piece eventually entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains accessible for study and public display.

During the Dutch Golden Age, printmaking flourished as a means of disseminating popular stories and moral lessons. Van Everdingen’s choice of the Reynard cycle reflects contemporary taste for illustrated fables that combined entertainment with commentary on human behaviour, aligning with broader European interest in animal allegories.