The Dog in the Manger (from John Ogilby, "Aesopics or a Second Colllection of Fables," 1668) 1666

Editor: So, this engraving is "The Dog in the Manger" from John Ogilby's *Aesopics* – a book of fables from 1668 – and the print was made around 1666 by Wenceslaus Hollar. It’s got this very… theatrical quality, almost like a stage set. A man on an ox glares down at a dog in a manger, and I wonder… what’s the story here, literally and figuratively? Curator: Ah, yes, Hollar! A meticulous chronicler of his era with a sly wink. It's "the dog in the manger" fable. See the dog? Can't eat the hay, but he's stopping the ox who can. It’s about pointless obstruction, but Hollar brings this biting wit to it, don't you think? Look at the fellow’s face; pure contempt. Like he’s saying, "You *dare* desire what *I* cannot use?" Have you ever felt that envious impulse to guard what doesn't serve you? Editor: Absolutely! I feel like I see it everywhere, even now! The fellow on the ox… he almost looks… defeated, maybe? Like he's resigned to the dog's attitude. Curator: Interesting. Defeated, or perhaps just… weary? He's seen this dog’s trick before, countless times, I wager. But the question then becomes: are we all, at some point, both the dog and the ox? Perhaps Hollar wants us to reflect on those roles within ourselves, too. Is there some manger where we're behaving like this unreasonable canine? Editor: That’s a really interesting perspective. It kind of hits home in a slightly uncomfortable way, which is probably a sign of good art! I hadn't really considered my own role in that dynamic, only the other person. Curator: Art's trick, isn't it? To show us our own faces in unexpected mirrors. So, where might *you* be a dog in the manger? No need to answer now! It’s a thought experiment. Editor: Haha! Point taken! This has really given me something to chew on – no pun intended – about the nature of selfishness and how it plays out in everyday life. Curator: Precisely. And who knew a little dog and a hay-filled manger could unleash such contemplation? Now, isn't that delicious?