The Bear Trapped c. 1645 - 1656

Allart van Everdingen created this etching, "The Bear Trapped," sometime in the 17th century. In it, we see a bear caught in a trap, while a fox looks on. What might this image have meant to viewers in the Dutch Republic? Hunting imagery was popular, but it also carried social meaning. The trapped bear could symbolize the dangers of the natural world, and the fox may embody cunning and resourcefulness in the face of adversity. The Dutch Republic was a rising commercial power at the time. Images like this reflected a culture that valued entrepreneurship. To understand the art of this period, we need to look at prints, pamphlets, and other forms of popular imagery, not just paintings in museums. By considering the broader visual culture, we can better understand the values and beliefs of the society that produced this art.