Boy frightened by a dog (one of a pair) 1760 - 1775

This porcelain sculpture of a boy frightened by a dog was created by the Höchst Manufactory in the late 18th century. Here, we see a universal symbol of fear: the raised hands, the recoiling posture, gestures that transcend time and culture. Consider, for example, the Niobid Painter's vase from ancient Greece, where figures also raise their arms in terror, or even the Christian iconography of the Massacre of the Innocents, where mothers reach out in desperate protection. These gestures speak to a shared human experience of fear, a primal response etched into our collective memory. The dog, often a symbol of loyalty, here becomes a source of anxiety, reflecting the unpredictable nature of life. This subversion, this unexpected betrayal of trust, touches on deep-seated fears of chaos, the potential for the familiar to turn menacing. It is a powerful force that engages our subconscious, resonating with our own experiences of vulnerability. The symbol is ever-evolving, resurfacing, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.