Renard Lies that the Rabbit Insulted One of His Children from Hendrick van Alcmar's Renard The Fox

Art Historical Context

In this lively engraving, titled *Renard Lies that the Insulted One of Children*, Allart vandingen captures a cunning moment from Hendrick van Alcmar's 15th-century Dutch adaptation of the medieval beast epic *Renard The Fox*. The sly fox Renard, the story's notorious trickster, fabricates a tale of insult to deceive others, ensnaring the innocent rabbit in his web of lies. This scene exemplifies the fable's satirical take on human vices like deceit and power struggles, a theme that captivated European audiences from the Middle Ages through the Baroque era. Created between 1650 and 1675, the work is a third-state engraving—meaning it reflects refinements in the printing plate across four versions—showcasing van Everdingen's mastery of fine lines and intricate details on a compact plate (3 3/4 × 4 9/16 in.). As a prominent Dutch artist known for dramatic landscapes inspired by Scandinavia, van Everdingen here applies his precise technique to narrative illustration, bringing anthropomorphic animals to life with expressive gestures and textured fur. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this print from The Elisha Whittelsey Collection highlights the enduring popularity of *Reynard* tales in 17th-century print culture. These affordable engravings made moral fables accessible, blending entertainment with subtle social commentary for households across Europe.

About the Artist

Allart van Everdingen · 1621–1675

Allaert van Everdingen (1621-1675) was a Dutch Golden Age painter and printmaker who introduced Scandinavian landscape painting to the Netherlands. Born in Alkmaar and baptized on June 18, 1621, he pioneered a distinctive genre of Nordic mountain scenery that profoundly influenced Dutch landscape painting and later inspired the Romantic movement. Van Everdingen holds a unique place in art history...