Notre-Dame de Paris, by Jean de La Fontaine...the record of our week on Instagram

Since the beginning of the confinement, the nature and the animals to resume gradually their rights. In the streets deserted by the human, the animals take advantage of the calm returned and wander on roadways and sidewalks.

domestic and wild animals join us also in our selection of the week. First of all literary heroes, they speak through the pen of the illustrious fabulist Jean de La Fontaine-of which we commémorions the anniversary of his death on April 13 1695. Rabbits, turtles, lambs, ravens, cicadas, foxes, lions, as many of the characters in the fables to talk of the people, to enlighten us about the human comedy. "I use animals to instruct men", dedication of the poet to the Dauphin, son of Louis XIV, in his first book of fables in 1668. It also explains why the choice of the animals: "The properties of animals and their various characters are expressed; thus ours also, because we are short of this as there are good and bad in all creatures unreasonable". Through his fables, he criticized endlessly the power of the kingship, and making fun of all the courtiers. The poet has bequeathed to us his vision ironic of through humans, through animals full of mischief.