Three small dogs 1571 - 1631

Jacob Matham created this print, "Three Small Dogs," sometime around the late 16th or early 17th century. The composition is deceptively simple: three dogs are sitting in a row, each rendered with a distinct character through Matham's detailed engraving technique. The leftmost dog, with its profuse mane, has a lion-like appearance; the center dog with drooping ears seems melancholic. The dog on the right looks upwards, perhaps catching a scent. The cross-hatching and fine lines bring a rich texture to the monochrome palette. The structure of this print uses semiotic signs. Each dog functions as a signifier, prompting us to consider the symbolic roles we assign to animals. The dogs are not merely representations of domestic pets; rather, they invite a meditation on physiognomy and the mirroring of human traits in animals. Are they allegorical figures? The print challenges fixed meanings, inviting viewers to project their interpretations onto these carefully rendered forms.