Sheet of Studies with Hunters, Horses and Dogs c. 1650 - 1654

Jan Blom created this Sheet of Studies with Hunters, Horses and Dogs with pen in brown ink. The dog, a symbol of fidelity and vigilance, is powerfully present here. One lies in repose, while another stands alertly by his master. This pairing echoes across time, from the loyal Anubis guarding Egyptian tombs to the faithful hounds accompanying noblemen in Renaissance tapestries. Consider the gesture of the hunt itself, visible here – the pursuit, the chase. In ancient myths, the hunt is often a metaphor for the pursuit of knowledge or spiritual enlightenment, a theme echoed in the classical myth of Actaeon, who was transformed into a stag and hunted down by his own hounds after witnessing the goddess Diana bathing. The image of the hunt evokes a primal, almost subconscious connection to our ancestral past. The presence of the horse, also, further speaks of mastery and the triumph of man over nature. These images tap into deeply ingrained cultural memories, engaging viewers on an elemental level. The hunt resurfaces across centuries, its essence transformed yet eternally present.