Vos in monnikspij (Reinaert) omringd door kippen en haan (Cantecleer) Possibly 1909

Bernard Willem Wierink created this subtle drawing depicting Reynard the Fox in a monk's habit, surrounded by chickens and Cantecleer, the rooster. Here, the fox embodies deception, cloaked in religious garb to beguile the innocent. This image draws upon centuries of animal fables, where animals act as allegories for human folly. Consider the enduring symbol of the fox itself – across cultures, it recurs as a figure of cunning and trickery, a motif that transcends time and place. Think back to Aesop, or even further to ancient folklore, where the fox's sly nature serves as a mirror to human failings. This portrayal taps into a primal understanding of predators in disguise. The act of masking one's true intentions has always stirred unease within the collective psyche. Wierink subtly awakens our awareness of how deceit often wears the mask of virtue. The image reminds us that appearances can be deceiving.