Kop van een hond vanachter een houten balk 1866 - 1910

This is Louis van Engelen's "Kop van een hond vanachter een houten balk" held at the Rijksmuseum, made using etching. Here, the structural elements of line and texture work to create depth and focus. The subtle hatching of the etching brings the dog's head into sharp relief. The composition is divided horizontally by the wooden beam, grounding the subject. Van Engelen uses the texture of the etching to suggest not just the dog’s physical appearance but also its presence. The work engages with the semiotics of animal representation, exploring themes of domestication and the relationship between humans and animals. Note the horizontal lines and the use of perspective, which guide our gaze to the dog’s intense expression. This engraving is a study in contrasts: the rough texture of the dog's fur against the smooth, planed wood, inviting continuous interpretation and discourse.