Reynard watches bear scratch his head on farm c. 17th century

Curator: Here we have Allart van Everdingen's print, titled "Reynard watches bear scratch his head on farm." The size of this etching is quite small, almost jewel-like. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the bear's almost human gesture of bewilderment. It’s such a universal pose. What's he scratching at, I wonder? Curator: Knowing Everdingen, he was likely drawing on the tales of Reynard the Fox, filled with sly trickery and social satire. The bear, in this context, probably represents someone easily fooled. Editor: Yes! And the fox, so self-assured, watches on. It feels like a frozen moment of impending mischief. Notice how the farm in the background seems to nod to a world of naive trust soon to be exploited? Curator: Exactly. The details in such a compact space are incredible. It speaks volumes about human folly, doesn't it? We're all vulnerable to a little scratching behind the ears sometimes. Editor: I’ll certainly be thinking about that the next time I feel a tickle! Van Everdingen really captured a mood, a kind of wry observation that still feels relevant.