Artwork
Reynard Seated Atop the Ass
Reynard Seated Atop the Ass 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
Created circa 1650 by the Dutch artist Jan Everdingen, this print is an etching titled *Reynard Seated Atop the Ass*. The image captures a fox perched on the back of a donkey as the pair moves through a tangled, wild landscape under a storm‑filled sky. The composition balances motion with a satirical tone, characteristic of Everdingen’s work in the mid‑seventeenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The central figures—Reynard the fox and a burdened donkey—draw on a long tradition of animal allegory. The fox, long associated with craftiness, gazes back with a self‑satisfied smile, while the donkey, its head lowered, suggests stubbornness or toil. Their juxtaposition creates a visual fable, commenting on the contrast between clever ambition and reluctant effort.
Technique & Style
Executed in copper plate etching, the work displays Everdingen’s precise line work and strong contrasts of light and dark. The tangled foliage and turbulent sky are rendered with sharp, energetic strokes that convey a sense of chaos. The print’s tonal range, achieved through varied biting and wiping of the acid‑etched surface, emphasizes the figures against the dense background.
History & Provenance
Jan Everdingen, known for both etchings and mezzotints, produced this piece during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of prolific printmaking. While specific ownership records are scarce, the print has appeared in several 19th‑century catalogues of Dutch graphic art, confirming its attribution to Everdingen and its circulation among collectors of early modern prints.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
