Seated Dog 1638

Here we have a drawing of a seated dog, made by Jacques Jordaens. Notice the somber, drooping head of the animal. The dog, as a symbol, carries a rich, often contradictory weight through history. On one hand, it represents fidelity, guidance, and vigilance, virtues deeply cherished since antiquity. But on the other, it can symbolize base instincts, and even degradation, depending on the cultural context. Think of Cerberus, the multi-headed hound guarding the gates of the Underworld in Greek mythology. Yet, here, the dog's posture evokes a sense of melancholy. In the dog’s downcast eyes, we perhaps see a reflection of human anxieties. The history of symbols is not linear. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, shaped by the currents of our collective memory and the undercurrents of our subconscious.