Twee honden 1851

Jan Karel Jacob de Jonge created this etching entitled 'Two Dogs', but we don't know exactly when. Its rough, unfinished quality can be seen in relation to the Hague School, a Dutch art movement which promoted a realistic and intimate style. But it is also related to the history of artistic institutions. De Jonge was the director of the Rotterdam Academy of Art, and, as such, he was helping to construct the idea of 'Dutch art' itself. Here we see the domestic interior of a well-to-do household, complete with staircase and a shelf displaying precious crockery. This glimpse of everyday life tells us a great deal about the construction of Dutch identity in the nineteenth century. The dogs are not just pets, but symbols of domesticity. The art historian can research exhibition histories and archival sources, helping us to understand the artist's role in creating that national identity.