Artwork

Reynard and the Wolf before the Fish Cart

Reynard and the Wolf before the Fish Cart, by Allart van Everdingen, ink, 1650
Reynard and the Wolf before the Fish Cart, by Allart van Everdingen, ink, 1650

Reynard and the Wolf before the Fish Cart is an ink print by the Baroque artist Allart van Everdingen. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Reynard and the Wolf before the Fish Cart is an etching created by Dutch Golden Age artist Everdingen around 1650. The print depicts a narrative scene from the medieval tales of Reynard the Fox.

Subject & Meaning

The etching illustrates a cunning fox, dressed in attire suggestive of pride or deceit, standing alongside a fish cart with a caught fish, while a hungry and sneaky wolf looks on. The scene derives from 'Reynard the Fox,' a collection of stories traditionally used to convey moral lessons through the exploits of its trickster protagonist.

Technique & Style

Everdingen executed the work using etching techniques, involving the use of acid and tools to carve the design onto a metal plate. The style reflects the Dutch Golden Age's attention to detail and narrative depth in printmaking.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1650, the etching's provenance is not detailed here, though a similar depiction of the trickster fox can be found in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, highlighting the character's recurrent presence in the artist's oeuvre.

Context

The work is set within the broader context of 17th-century Dutch printmaking and the enduring popularity of 'Reynard the Fox' tales, which were widely used for moral instruction across Europe during the medieval and early modern periods.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Allart van Everdingen

Artist

Allart van Everdingen

Allaert van Everdingen (Dutch pronunciation: ; bapt. 18 June 1621 – 8 November 1675 (buried)), was a Dutch Golden Age painter and printmaker in etching and mezzotint.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.