Reinaert de vos krijgt de zegen - Allaert van Everdingen

A detailed etching by Allaert van Everdingen depicting a scene from the Reynard the Fox fables, showcasing the artist's skill in narrative printmaking.

This etching by Allaert van Everdingen depicts a scene from the medieval beast epic, Reynard the Fox. The composition centres on the cunning fox, Reynard, who appears to be receiving a blessing or benediction from a ram, surrounded by a gathering of other animals including a lion, a dog, a hare, and a rooster. The scene is set beneath the boughs of a large tree, with a distant, sketchily rendered landscape featuring a small building on a hill.

Van Everdingen, a Dutch painter and printmaker, was known for his depictions of Scandinavian scenery and his work in the tradition of animal fables. His etching technique here is precise, using varied line weights to define the textures of animal fur, the rough bark of the tree, and the uneven terrain of the ground. The figures are arranged in a theatrical manner, suggesting a narrative moment from the popular literary cycle. The artist employs a clear, descriptive style that focuses on the characterisation of the animals, each possessing distinct postures and expressions that convey the satirical nature of the original fable.

This print reflects the interest in moralising animal tales that persisted in Dutch culture during the seventeenth century. The etching demonstrates the artist's ability to balance narrative clarity with the technical demands of the medium. The background remains relatively light, allowing the foreground figures to occupy the primary focus of the viewer. The work is a fine example of the narrative printmaking tradition, where the artist translates literary tropes into visual form through careful hatching and cross-hatching. The presence of the staff and bag on the ground adds a layer of detail to the narrative, hinting at the fox's journey or his role as a pilgrim in the broader story of Reynard.