CORNELIS VAN HAARLEM
(b. 1562, Haarlem, d. 1638, Haarlem)

The Fall of Man (detail)

1592
Oil on canvas
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

The animals are carefully arranged. The monkey embracing the cat, the dog and the fox, the slug and the owl all have connotations that comment on the story. Those who knew the meaning of these symbols and their combined effect could delve deeper into the picture.