Twee parende en twee vechtende honden 1610

This is a copper engraving depicting dogs mating and fighting by an anonymous artist. In this image, we see the raw, unfiltered instincts that drive living beings. The dog, often seen as a symbol of loyalty and domesticity, is here stripped down to its primal essence. Consider how similar animalistic struggles play out in human dramas throughout art history. From ancient Roman mosaics depicting gladiatorial combat to Renaissance paintings of mythological battles, the theme of conflict is timeless. The image resonates with the ancient understanding of dogs as symbols of both fidelity and the hunt, but here, the curling tail that we see in classical depictions of hunting dogs— a symbol of vitality and power—becomes something else. It becomes a marker of instinctive behavior. Such imagery serves as a reminder of the powerful, often contradictory forces that shape our world. The animal instinct continues to hold a mirror to humanity, reflecting our own internal battles between reason and instinct.