Deer Hound, from the Dogs of the World series for Old Judge Cigarettes 1890

This small chromolithograph, part of a series from Goodwin & Company, depicts a Deer Hound, a breed long associated with nobility and the hunt. The dog, with its wiry coat and noble bearing, is rendered with a keen eye for detail, capturing its essence as both a hunting companion and a symbol of status. The image of the dog is laden with cultural memory. Since antiquity, dogs have appeared as symbols of loyalty and vigilance, such as the Cerberus guarding the gates to the underworld. The Deer Hound itself, bred for the pursuit of stags in the Scottish Highlands, carries echoes of the wild, untamed landscapes and the rituals of the hunt. Consider the shift from the mythological hellhound to the domesticated hunter, a transition that mirrors humanity's evolving relationship with the natural world. The emotional weight of the image lies in this interplay of primal instincts and cultivated refinement. The dog, a motif that has traversed centuries and cultures, continues to be reimagined. A powerful force, engaging us on a deep, subconscious level.