Vos met twee staarten 1744

Johann Elias Ridinger created this print, "Vos met twee staarten," using etching, with no known date. Our attention is captured by a fox, strangely adorned with two tails, perched upon a rock amidst a somber, wooded landscape. The monochromatic palette enhances the intricate details rendered through fine, controlled lines, lending the scene a dramatic flair. The structure of the piece employs contrast and texture to direct the eye. The rough, etched lines that define the rocks and foliage sharply contrast with the smoother rendering of the fox’s fur, emphasizing the animal's peculiar form. It seems Ridinger is exploring a visual paradox—a natural scene disrupted by an anomaly. The fox with two tails challenges our notions of natural order and beauty, inviting us to reconsider the boundaries between the normal and the strange. The print's composition and texture serve to provoke thought, reminding us that art often functions as a mirror, reflecting not only our world but also the limits of our understanding.