Hazewindhonden en geit 1780 - 1855

This etching by Jan Dasveldt depicts a resting greyhound and goat. While seemingly simple, these animals carry a rich symbolic weight through history. Consider the dog: a symbol of loyalty, of guardianship, frequently seen at the sides of nobility. Further back, in ancient Egypt, we find Anubis, the jackal-headed god associated with mummification and the afterlife. This protective figure reappears in countless forms across cultures, from the hellhound Cerberus to domestic companions. The goat, often linked with virility and untamed nature, has roots that stretch back to Pan in Greek mythology, a figure embodying both divine and animalistic traits. Notice how these images, laden with cultural memory, evoke primal emotions. The dog, with its unwavering gaze, speaks to our need for protection, while the goat hints at our own wilder impulses. These motifs, imprinted on our collective consciousness, engage us on a deeply subconscious level. Their journey through time is not linear but cyclical, resurfacing and evolving in new contexts.