To muldyr i indgangen til en stald 1638

Pieter van Laer etched this humble scene of "Two Mules at the Entrance to a Stable", capturing rural life with a stark realism. The mules, standing passively, framed by the stable's archway, evoke a profound sense of stillness. The donkey has been a loaded symbol throughout history, and appears across cultures as a symbol of both humility and foolishness. Think of Apuleius’s “The Golden Ass," an exploration of man's primal instincts and the transformative powers of the animal realm. Here, though, there is a sense of quiet dignity about the animals. They represent the animal spirit that exists within the human psyche, a force that is primal and instinctual. The interplay of light and shadow within the stable invites us to contemplate the simple rhythms of existence. It is a scene of striking, enduring relevance, an echo across time.