Huisdieren 1875 - 1903

This children's print by Jan de Haan presents scenes of domesticated animals, each imbued with symbolic weight. Consider the loyal dog, a "Fidel op Wacht," guarding his master’s belongings. The dog, from antiquity to the present, has been a symbol of unwavering fidelity. Think of the ancient Roman mosaics, where dogs are depicted as guardians of the home. But here, the dog rests beside a discarded glove and book—items that suggest a master nearby. Consider too the cow, "Op de Weide" awaiting its fate in the pasture. The cow, with its ancient association to fertility, has been reduced here to future butchery. We witness a cyclical progression, echoing through time. This illustrates the powerful, often subconscious, emotional and psychological forces that connect us to these images.