Un Chien Tourné Vers Le Droit c. 17th century

Stefano della Bella created this etching, *Un Chien Tourné Vers Le Droit,* sometime in the 17th century. In the print, we see a dog standing, facing right, with two other dogs resting in the background, all set against a simple landscape. Della Bella, an Italian printmaker, was working during a time of stark social hierarchies and rigid class structures. Etchings like this were often commissioned by or created for the elite, reflecting their interests and status. Dogs in art frequently symbolized loyalty, protection, and nobility, qualities valued by the aristocracy. But what does it mean to depict these animals with such acute attention? Della Bella captures a perspective attentive to the natural world. Instead of the grand allegories of history painting, there is a different sort of realism and care enacted in this study of dogs. In the end, this etching is a glimpse into the daily life and the social values of 17th-century Europe, inviting us to consider the relationships between humans, animals, and the structures of power that shaped their world.