Will you go out with me, Fido 1859

Alfred Stevens painted this intimate scene of a woman with her dog, likely in the mid-19th century. The woman, adorned in a shawl, reaches for a door handle, while a small dog, perhaps her companion, waits expectantly. The closed door in this image, as in many others, symbolizes potential, a passage to a new experience or space. Think of Botticelli's "Birth of Venus," where the goddess emerges from a seashell, or portal. The dog, often seen as a symbol of fidelity and companionship, reminds us of ancient Egyptian art. The act of opening the door, charged with anticipation, resonates through time. It's a motif echoed and transformed in countless ways, revealing our enduring desire for connection and change. This simple gesture, laden with emotional weight, reminds us of the cyclical nature of human experience.