Head of a Dog c. 1820 - 1845

Nicolas Toussaint Charlet, a 19th-century French artist, painted this oil on canvas, "Head of a Dog," with dimensions of 35 by 35 cm and a depth of 8 cm. Charlet, known for his lithographs depicting military life and the common soldier during and after the Napoleonic era, offers a glimpse into the evolving relationship between humans and animals in French society. During this period, there was a growing interest in depicting animals with individual characteristics and emotions, reflecting a shift in cultural attitudes towards pets and their integration into domestic life. While this study might seem simple, it encapsulates this broader cultural trend of Romanticism, where artists and intellectuals began to see nature and animals as more than mere resources, endowing them with intrinsic value and emotional depth. To fully appreciate this work, delve into the societal shifts of 19th-century France.