Fabel van Aesopus en de landman 1769

Simon Fokke’s engraving, “Fable of Aesop and the Farmer,” presents a timeless scene of human-animal interaction. The donkey, central to the fable, carries a weight of symbolic significance far beyond its literal depiction. Here, it reminds me of images of burdened figures from antiquity, like the Atlas carrying the world. The donkey reappears throughout history, often as a symbol of stubbornness, but also of humility and perseverance. Think of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey—a powerful juxtaposition of humility and divinity. Consider how this symbol, born from the ancient world, continues to resonate, tapping into our collective memory of burdens carried and lessons learned. It engages us on a subconscious level, reminding us of our shared human experiences of labor and morality, of strength and fallibility. A cyclical progression indeed, where the ancient fable mirrors modern moral quandaries.