Hond naar rechts 1780 - 1851

Pieter Janson rendered this tiny drawing, 'Dog Facing Right,' sometime before his death in 1851. It is a humble sketch, yet the dog, an age-old symbol, carries profound significance. Since antiquity, the dog has been humanity's loyal companion, often representing fidelity and vigilance. In ancient Greece, the dog was associated with Hecate, goddess of crossroads, thresholds, and magic, while in other cultures, they guided souls through the underworld. Consider the Anubis, the jackal-headed god of ancient Egypt, protector of the dead, or Cerberus, the multi-headed hound guarding the gates of Hades. These canine figures, guardians of the afterlife, also remind us of the innate human fear of the unknown and the solace found in loyalty. This image, simple as it seems, taps into our collective memory, resonating with primal emotions and ingrained cultural associations.