Reproductie van een schilderij van Table d'hôte at a dogs' home door John Charles Dollman before 1879

This image reproduces John Charles Dollman's painting, 'Table d'hôte at a dogs' home.' While the exact date remains unknown, this piece invites us to consider Victorian attitudes towards animals and class. In the scene a variety of dogs of different breeds are depicted at mealtime. Each dog seems to represent a different social class within society. The well-bred dogs contrasts sharply with the working-class dogs, highlighting the rigid social hierarchy of the time. This contrast makes me consider who gets to enjoy comfort and plenty, and who is left with scraps. How might the concept of “pedigree” become a commentary on the human obsession with lineage and social standing? The confined setting evokes the restrictive social norms of the Victorian era. The painting captures a moment of both camaraderie and competition. Perhaps this subtly reflects the complex dynamics of Victorian society itself.