Wolf in een klem met een gans en eenden 1734 - 1784

This etching, created by Gottlieb Friedrich Riedel, presents a scene brimming with symbolic tension. A wolf, caught in a hunter's snare, finds itself amidst a gathering of geese and ducks. The wolf, a creature often associated with cunning and predation, is here rendered vulnerable, its predatory nature ironically trapped. This image speaks to the cyclical nature of hunter and hunted, a dynamic that has echoed through art history. Consider how similar themes appear in ancient fables. The vulnerability of the predator evokes a primal fear, engaging us on a deeply subconscious level. This fear, tied to survival, resurfaces across eras. The wolf's plight is a mirror reflecting our own fears of entrapment, be it physical or psychological. Riedel masterfully captures this tension, reminding us of the ever-shifting roles in the drama of existence. Note that the symbolism shifts in tone and is always present in art, evolving but never disappearing.