Staande man met kind aan een leiband 1777 - 1779

This drawing of a man with a child on a leash was made by Pieter de Mare around the late 18th century. The leash is a striking symbol. In this context, it speaks to the relationship between parent and child, hinting at guidance and control. Interestingly, the motif of a leash appears in various guises throughout art history. We see dogs on leashes in hunting scenes in medieval tapestries, but here the presence of a child introduces a curious dynamic, and the symbolism shifts. The child’s slightly raised arms might be read as a subconscious expression of the desire for freedom, yet they are physically tethered. There’s a psychological tension here: the child's striving for independence, constrained by the parent’s protective hand, and manifested through this leash. Such visual arrangements engage us on a deeper level because they echo our own internal struggles between freedom and security. The symbol of the leash, therefore, isn't merely a constraint; it's a complex interplay of love, authority, and the eternal dance of growth and control, resurfacing through time.