Groepsportret in tuin met hond en kat before 1894

Hendrik Herman van den Berg captured this group portrait with gelatin silver print around the turn of the 20th century. We see two women, one holding a dog, the other, a cat, and a young man kneeling in front of them. The presence of the pets, the dog and the cat, is particularly revealing. Dogs, since antiquity, have been symbols of fidelity and vigilance, qualities cherished in domestic life. Here, it serves not just as a pet but as an emblem of loyalty, its presence evoking a sense of security and unwavering companionship. Contrast this with the cat, often linked to independence, mystery, or even witchcraft. One can't help but recall similar pairings, such as in ancient Egyptian art, where animals embodied both protection and the unknown. The appearance of the pair hints at the complex interplay of societal expectation versus individuality, a subtle commentary woven into the fabric of everyday life. Such imagery taps into our collective memory, reminding us that these themes, though ever-evolving, remain perpetually resonant.