Hond met kleding en vaandel 1840 - 1905

Editor: Here we have François de Meersman's "Dog with clothing and flag," an engraving print from between 1840 and 1905. It's a rather curious image – a dog dressed in what appears to be a uniform, holding a blank flag. It strikes me as odd, and perhaps a little bit humorous. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, let's start by thinking about the material. It’s an engraving, a print. This immediately tells us about the intended audience. Prints are multiples; they’re made to be distributed widely, likely to a growing middle class with access to disposable income and expanding consumer culture. Consider what it means to depict an animal in clothes, seemingly engaged in human labor. Editor: So, the act of depicting an animal in human clothing, it connects somehow to material culture and the burgeoning middle class? Curator: Exactly. The anthropomorphism, imbuing the dog with human traits and clothing associated with work, reflects a commentary on labor. What kind of commentary could that be? It invites us to consider the position of animals in society. Editor: That makes sense. So the choice of engraving is key because it means mass production and circulation within a specific social class that has increasing spending power, which creates a market for these commentaries and representations of labor. Curator: Precisely. Now consider what happens when images become mass-produced and widely accessible? Editor: They can affect and shape public opinions, perhaps leading to greater awareness of both human and animal working conditions. Curator: Precisely. Understanding how an artist chooses to produce work, and for whom, illuminates the context of production. Editor: That's a helpful way to approach art that I hadn't really considered before. Focusing on the materials and their circulation, completely shifted how I was thinking about this engraving. Thanks! Curator: Absolutely. Seeing art as a material product that participates in culture opens all sorts of exciting new pathways for understanding!