Vos en egel 1763 - 1804

Curator: Up next, we have "Vos en egel", which translates to "Fox and Hedgehog", a print made somewhere between 1763 and 1804. It's attributed to Johann Friedrich Gottlieb Unger. Editor: Oh, I get this immediately, it has the feeling of something I read as a kid. A simple illustration in a beloved fable collection, you know? The sharpness of the lines gives it that straightforward, didactic quality. Curator: Precisely! The piece really emphasizes clarity, doesn't it? Look how Unger employs engraving techniques to create such distinct lines. The contrast is very strong in this print, which is rather small. I believe the subject is derived from narrative art traditions. Editor: You are so right. It's that classic setup: predator meets prey, right? The fox looks furious, posed in profile, practically vibrating with frustration at that plump, spiky hedgehog. What's interesting to me is the scale - or rather, the way Unger manipulates it. Curator: How so? Editor: Well, the hedgehog is rendered as a kind of a boulder almost. It is like a landscape element more than it is prey. And the background almost feels theatrical, as though they are stage actors. What does the ladder lean against? There is so little context, you know? Curator: It’s fascinating to observe how Unger plays with this drama. One perspective could be that the print serves as a symbolic representation of perseverance and resilience. Or, the dangers of unmet desires? Editor: Absolutely! I think Unger makes us think of how vulnerability can be turned into the strongest form of protection, turning the tables on who we perceive as strong and weak. A tiny shield of defense. In folklore and iconography, the hedgehog, since antiquity, signifies intelligence too... Curator: Wonderful insight. This journey reminds me again how one tiny piece can spark huge questions. Editor: Exactly, it brings old stories and inner strength to light.