Boer met honden c. 1850 - 1890

Emile van Marcke painted this oil on panel titled 'Boer met honden,' or 'Farmer with Dogs,' sometime in the 19th century. It features a farmer accompanied by his loyal dogs, overseeing grazing sheep against a landscape. The dog is an ancient symbol of faithfulness, service, and protection. Representations of dogs appear in various contexts across time: from the loyal hunting dogs depicted in Roman mosaics to the vigilant Cerberus guarding the gates of the Underworld in Greek mythology. It is a motif that has traversed centuries, evolving from symbolic guardians and hunters to emblems of domestic loyalty and steadfastness. This painting invokes a powerful psychological response, tapping into our collective memory and our subconscious understanding of the dog as a symbol of unwavering fidelity. Such symbols are not linear; they resurface and evolve, connecting us to layers of meaning embedded deep within our cultural psyche.