Fotoreproductie van een prent van een hond in een deuropening naar een schilderij van Edwin Henry Landseer 1875

This photogravure shows a print of a painting by Edwin Henry Landseer, and was made by an anonymous artist. The image captures a melancholic scene, steeped in Victorian sentimentality. Landseer, known for his animal paintings, often imbued them with human-like emotions, reflecting the era's views on nature and morality. This dog, likely a greyhound, is depicted in a domestic interior, surrounded by symbols of wealth. Yet, its downcast expression hints at loss or loneliness, a theme resonant with Victorian society's anxieties. What does it mean to elevate an animal to this emotional state? How does the representation reflect the complex relationship between humans and animals, and the projection of human feelings onto them? This photogravure invites us to consider the narratives we construct around animals, and the ways in which they mirror our own emotional landscapes.