Etende hond 1700 - 1800

This small, delicate etching presents a dog by D. Merrem, poised with its snout over what appears to be a discarded animal bladder. The dog, a loyal companion, has long served as a potent symbol. In antiquity, dogs were guardians of both the home and the underworld, linking the realms of the living and the dead. Cerberus, the multi-headed hound of Hades, is perhaps the best-known example. Later, in domestic scenes throughout the Renaissance and beyond, dogs became emblems of fidelity and watchfulness, often appearing at the feet of noble subjects to signify their loyalty. The discarded bladder, too, carries its weight. As a container for bodily fluids, it hints at the corporeal and transient nature of life. The dog's curiosity, its primal urge to investigate, embodies an unconscious drive to confront mortality. This simple scene, then, resonates with a profound, timeless tension, a constant dance between instinct and understanding that echoes through the ages.