Blaffende hond, naar rechts 1590 - 1612

This drawing of a barking dog was made with pen in brown ink by an anonymous artist, and is now in the Rijksmuseum. The tense, contorted figure of the dog is captured with tightly controlled lines. There’s a clear emphasis on the dog's posture – the arched back, the raised hackles, and the curled tail, which together create a sense of coiled energy. The dog is on alert; it is ready to spring. The linear quality of the drawing is striking. Notice the details of the dog's snarling mouth and the texture of the ground beneath its feet. These are rendered with meticulous strokes that define form and texture. The empty space around the figure is as important as the figure itself, intensifying the animal's isolation. What does the semiotic reading of this artwork convey? The dog is presented as a signifier of watchfulness and aggression, with a formal structure embodying tension.