King Lion and Fox 17th century

This drawing of ‘King Lion and Fox’ was created by an anonymous artist, and its time of creation is unknown. The drawing confronts the viewer with questions of power, authority, and the social hierarchy. We see the lion, traditionally the king of beasts, adorned in royal regalia. This bestows upon him not only a majestic presence, but also symbolizes the weight of leadership and expectations. The fox is in the foreground, looking up at the king. His posture and positioning could imply deference or possibly cunning. How do we interpret this interaction, and what does it say about the dynamics between the powerful and the marginalized? How are we complicit in the perpetuation of these roles? With this drawing, the artist creates a space for introspection on the complexities of power and social interaction that continue to resonate today.