Kind spelend met een hond 1510 - 1569

Jacob Binck created this tiny engraving, 'Child Playing with a Dog', around the mid-16th century. At the time, Binck worked as a court painter for Christian III of Denmark and later Albert of Prussia, a position that afforded him some security in a tumultuous period of religious reformation. This print presents a plump child, perhaps Cupid, in a playful embrace with a puppy. The image sits within a circle surrounded by swirling foliage, and is reminiscent of classical motifs, very much in vogue at the time. However, there is something uncomfortable about it. The child’s languid pose and unfocused gaze hint at something more complex than simple innocence. Is this image just a celebration of childhood, or is Binck hinting at deeper, perhaps darker, themes of desire and vulnerability? As we consider the lasting power of images like these, we are reminded of the enduring tension between innocence and experience.