Zinnebeelden uit de fabelen van de Lafontaine / Emblémes des fables de Lafontaine 1834 - 1842

This is a print by J. Valken from Rotterdam, illustrating scenes from La Fontaine's fables. Note the recurring figure of the wolf across these panels. This predatory figure, ever scheming, is a potent symbol with roots stretching back to ancient lore. Consider the Roman myth of Romulus and Remus, suckled by a she-wolf, a complex emblem of both nurturing and primal power. This image is echoed through time, often tinged with menace. The wolf embodies the untamed, the dangers lurking just beyond the edges of civilization. The enduring presence of this symbol speaks to a deep-seated human fascination with the wild and its potential threat, engaging our subconscious fears and desires. It is a figure that resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, always carrying a trace of its ancient origins.