Drie honden waarvan een verkleed op een patio 1758

Jean Daullé created this engraving, "Three Dogs, One Dressed, on a Patio," in the 18th century. During this period, images of animals, particularly dogs, were used to subtly reflect and comment on human society and its values. Here, the artist invites us into a whimsical scene that reflects the social hierarchies of the time. A pug, dressed in what appears to be Turkish clothing, reclines regally, smoking a pipe. The attire suggests a playful reference to the exoticism and orientalism popular among the European elite. Meanwhile, the other dogs seem to serve or attend to him, reinforcing a class-based dynamic. Even the cat on the upper level seems to be looking down on this odd assembly. But what does it mean to see these animals enacting human roles? Daullé seems to ask us to consider how we construct identities, how we perform for each other, and the sometimes absurd rituals that define our social lives. It encourages a reflection on power, status, and the roles we play, all through the lens of these charming canines.