Kop van een jachthond 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat sketched this "Head of a Hunting Dog" with pen in the 19th century. Notice the hound's composed gaze and firm jawline. The dog, a loyal companion in the hunt, has a rich tapestry of symbolism. In ancient Greece, dogs were associated with Hecate, goddess of magic and crossroads, linking them to liminal spaces and intuition. Yet, they also appear as symbols of fidelity, guarding homes and hearts. We can see this devotion echoed in the faithful canines immortalized in Roman mosaics, protecting thresholds with unwavering vigilance. Think, then, of Cerberus, the multi-headed hound guarding the gates of the Underworld. Here, the dog embodies a primal fear of death and the unknown, a psychological barrier between worlds. Consider how, over centuries, the dog evolves in the human psyche, from guardian to hunter, reflecting our changing relationship with nature and the subconscious. In Tavenraat's sketch, can we sense a echo of both the hunt and the hearth?