Jachthuis van Paleis Het Loo 1694 - 1697

This etching by Jan van Call depicts the Jachthuis of Paleis Het Loo, featuring several dogs in the foreground. Dogs, throughout art history, have been potent symbols. Often representing fidelity and vigilance, they were common in portraits of royalty and nobility as emblems of loyalty and status. Consider the dogs of ancient Egypt, revered and even mummified, or the hounds of medieval tapestries, symbols of the hunt and aristocratic privilege. In this pastoral scene, however, the dogs’ animated presence evokes a primal, instinctual energy, a connection to nature that contrasts with the structured architecture. The way these dogs are portrayed, bounding and free, resonates with our own subconscious desires for freedom and connection with the natural world. This collective memory, of the wild and untamed, touches us on a deeply emotional level. Thus, the image not only captures a physical place but also reflects our enduring, evolving relationship with the animal kingdom.