Fabel van de wolf en het lam 1808 - 1881

This is Eugène Verboeckhoven's etching, showing the fable of the wolf and the lamb. The lamb, a symbol of innocence and vulnerability, stands drinking peacefully from a stream, while the wolf, embodying predatory aggression, watches with ill intent. This dynamic has echoed through art and literature for millennia. Think of ancient Roman mosaics depicting similar scenes of predators and prey. The wolf's snarling mouth and fixed gaze speak to primal fears, reminding us of the ever-present threat of violence and exploitation. This stark contrast taps into our collective memory of vulnerability and the subconscious anxieties that come with it. The stream itself is a potent symbol, a source of life, yet also a place of danger. This duality highlights how even in the most nurturing environments, threats may lurk, turning the stream into a mirror reflecting the precarious balance between innocence and malice. Thus, the fable is not confined to the past but resurfaces, taking on new meanings across time and engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level, reminding us of the cyclical nature of power and vulnerability.