Dog in Front of a Fire 

August Macke sketched “Dog in Front of a Fire,” using graphite, at an unknown date. Macke’s world was one of burgeoning industrialization and shifting social structures in early 20th century Germany. Here, in this intimate domestic scene, a dog lounges before a fireplace. A second dog statue is perched above the mantle piece. Macke’s choice to portray the dog is intriguing, as animals often symbolize loyalty, companionship, and the natural world. In contrast, the formal setting of a middle-class interior speaks to themes of domesticity and civilization. Macke, who tragically died in World War I, explored the intersection of the personal and the political in his work. He captured fleeting moments of everyday life in a rapidly changing world. The sketch is less about the specific qualities of the subject, and more about the experience and the feeling it evokes. How does this image speak to the quiet moments of reflection and connection that can be found even in the most turbulent times?