Fabels van Fontaine

Editor: Here we have "Fabels van Fontaine," a print from 1894 now at the Rijksmuseum. It's credited to Jean de la Fontaine. It's a watercolor and print piece... rather faded, giving it a nostalgic quality. I see what appears to be an illustration for the cover of the Fables book. The sign dominates the image. What strikes you most when you look at this? Curator: The first thing that grabs me is how seemingly commonplace, it is also so densely packed with visual cues. It's like a portal. Think of the rooster, crowing atop the sign; for centuries across different cultures, the rooster has represented vigilance, courage, and even resurrection. In this context, it feels like a call to attention, drawing us into the world of La Fontaine's fables. Does it spark any ideas for you about why the artist made this choice? Editor: Well, it does speak to the fables having enduring relevance, perhaps suggesting these tales are always timely and resonant. Then, of course, you can tie it to France and Gaul. What about the other animal images hidden around the edges? Curator: Exactly. Animals act as a conduit between the human and spiritual realms, and they are not at all neutral figures here, but each comes charged with centuries of symbolic significance. I can spot a predatory bird as well, a common theme with classic morality tales, which use those types of animal symbols to illustrate larger points. Even the landscape itself carries weight – a reminder of the natural world, which is outside the experience of the human construct of towns and safety. Editor: It’s interesting to consider how something seemingly so simple can be interpreted in such a rich, layered way. I never would have thought to consider how packed with meaning animal references are! Curator: It all points towards how cultural memory gets encoded and passed down through visual symbols. Next time you see an animal used, it could be useful to dive deeper.