The Wolf, the Fox, and the Ape 1912

Arthur Rackham created this ink drawing, "The Wolf, the Fox, and the Ape," in 1912. It depicts a courtroom scene filled with anthropomorphic animals. The wolf and fox stand prominently, embodying cunning and deceit. The ape, adorned in a judge’s wig, symbolizes distorted justice. These animal figures tap into a long tradition of animal fables, from Aesop to La Fontaine, where animals represent human traits and follies. The fox, in particular, recalls the Reynard tales, a medieval cycle of allegorical stories. The figures evoke archetypes deeply embedded in our collective psyche. Notice how Rackham employs the image of the ape as a parody of authority. The bestial ape, in the garb of a judge, becomes a potent symbol of corrupted power, reflecting the anxieties about justice and governance. The image resonates with our own psychological projections. The motif emerges time and again, evolving yet retaining its primal force.