Jachthonden 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat sketched these hunting dogs in pen and brown ink. In this intimate study, the dogs represent more than mere hunting companions; they symbolize loyalty, instinct, and the primal connection between humans and the animal world. Consider how, across cultures and epochs, the dog has served as a guardian, a guide, a psychopomp even. We can think of Cerberus, the multi-headed hound guarding the gates of the Underworld, a motif that echoes in various mythologies, each time colored by local fears and hopes about death and the afterlife. The posture of these dogs, poised and alert, echoes the tension found in depictions of mythical creatures guarding sacred spaces. This alertness triggers a deep emotional response within us. It is a resonance with our innate, primal instincts, a reminder of the wild, untamed aspects of the self. This motif persists, reappearing in heraldry, folklore, and modern media, constantly adapting, and reminding us of our complex relationship with nature and our own inner drives.