Liggende hond voor een muurtje 1811 - 1867

Christiaan Wilhelmus Moorrees made this print of a dog in the Netherlands at some point in the first half of the nineteenth century. It’s a seemingly simple image, yet it can tell us something about the changing place of animals in Dutch society. Note the sharp contrast between the carefully rendered dog and the wall in the background, sketched only lightly. Is this a comment on the emerging middle class in the Netherlands? Dogs came to be seen as companions and members of the family, and were often subjects in paintings and prints. It is likely that Moorrees, as a military man, had the leisure to observe his surroundings. To fully appreciate this artwork, we need to consider not only the artist's intention but also the social and cultural context in which it was created and received. This kind of research can help us better understand the meaning and significance of this artwork.