A Spaniel Jumping 1680

Jan Verkolje created this etching, "A Spaniel Jumping," in the late 17th century. It's a beautiful example of the Dutch Golden Age's fascination with the natural world and the everyday lives of its citizens. During this time, the Netherlands was a global hub of commerce and culture. Verkolje, like many artists, found patronage among the wealthy merchant class, who commissioned works that reflected their values and status. Here, the spaniel, a breed associated with hunting and thus, aristocracy, is caught mid-leap, its body full of energy and anticipation. But it's not just about capturing a moment in time. Think about the relationship between humans and animals, and how this image might have reinforced social hierarchies. Who owned such a dog? What did it mean to depict it with such dynamism? It is in these seemingly simple images that the complex negotiations of class, power, and identity take shape. The image, itself, is full of life.