Kop van hazewindhond 1849

This is Jan Karel Jacob de Jonge's "Kop van hazewindhond," a delicate rendering of a dog's head. While undated, its origins lie in the 19th century, a time when class distinctions were often mirrored in the relationships between humans and animals. Domestic animals, particularly dogs, moved beyond the role of working animals, becoming symbols of status. This etching captures the likeness of a specific dog, elevating it to the level of portraiture typically reserved for humans of a certain class. The image hints at the subtle yet complex ways in which social hierarchies and personal identity were expressed through human relationships with animals. Consider the gaze of the dog, so directly engaging. In its quiet dignity, it asks us to consider the nature of companionship and the values we project onto our animal counterparts.