Ontwerp voor illustratie voor In Holland staat een huis: silhouet van de hond die achter het meisje aanzit 1884 - 1917

This is Nelly Bodenheim's silhouette design for "In Holland staat een huis," currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Notice the dynamic scene of a girl running away from a dog, rendered entirely in silhouette. This image evokes a sense of primal chase, the girl's outstretched arms and the dog’s eagerness are reminiscent of ancient hunting scenes found in cave paintings. Dogs, as symbols, have undergone a curious metamorphosis through time. From the loyal companions depicted in classical Roman mosaics, guarding homes and symbolizing fidelity, to the monstrous hellhounds of medieval lore, embodying fear and the unknown. In Bodenheim's illustration, is the dog a menacing figure? Or a playful companion? The subconscious tension between threat and play is palpable and has roots that run deep into the collective memory. The cyclical reappearance of the 'chase' motif, from ancient frescoes to modern cartoons, demonstrates how primal fears and joys persist, resurfacing in new forms across generations.