Artwork
The Bear and the Wolf are Persecuted
The Bear and the Wolf are Persecuted 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, *The Bear and the Wolf are Persecuted* is an etching by Dutch artist Allart van Everdingen. The print captures a dramatic chase: a bear and a wolf flee from pursuing dogs across a rugged, rocky terrain, while wind‑bent trees and scattered stones heighten the sense of danger. The composition emphasizes the violence of the natural world rather than an idyllic landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The scene portrays two wild predators—bear and wolf—cornered by domesticated dogs, suggesting a reversal of the usual hierarchy between tame and untamed animals. Their backward glances convey fear and desperation, inviting viewers to contemplate the vulnerability of even the fiercest creatures when confronted by human‑controlled forces.
Technique & Style
Everdingen employed a combination of etching, drypoint, and aquatint to render the print. Fine lines etched into the copper plate define the rocky ground and twisted foliage, while drypoint strokes add texture to the animals’ fur. Aquatint washes create atmospheric tonal variations, giving the landscape a moody, shadowed quality characteristic of his wilderness subjects.
History & Provenance
Allart van Everdingen, active during the Dutch Golden Age, produced a series of prints focused on northern European scenery after travels in Scandinavia. This work belongs to that body of output, reflecting his firsthand observations of harsh, forested environments. The print has circulated among collectors of 17th‑century Dutch graphic art and appears in several museum holdings.
Context
The print aligns with a broader 17th‑century Dutch fascination with dramatic, untamed nature, contrasting with the period’s increasingly refined urban scenes. Everdingen’s exposure to the rugged landscapes of Norway and Sweden informed his depiction of stark, wind‑swept terrain, positioning the work within a tradition of Northern European wilderness imagery.
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.
