Olifant en slang 1672

Albert Flamen made this small engraving of an elephant and snake sometime in the 17th century. The image presents us with an intriguing paradox: the Latin inscription reads "Victor Vincitur", or "the victor is vanquished". What could this mean? Well, the image depicts an elephant, traditionally a symbol of power and strength, being attacked by a snake. The snake's venom is enough to bring down even the largest beast. This speaks to the idea that even the mightiest can be brought low by unforeseen circumstances. Flamen was French and was connected to courtly circles. These kinds of images were common in emblem books that were popular at the time. The images and mottoes were meant to convey a moral message or philosophical idea. To further understand this image, we could look at similar emblems and study natural history books from the period. This reminds us that the meaning of art is always tied to its historical and cultural context.