Keeshondje, draagteken ter ere van Hendrik Danielsz. Hooft, burgemeester van Amsterdam 1787

This small medal commemorates Hendrik Danielsz. Hooft, a mayor of Amsterdam. On one side, we see his bust, while the other features a Keeshond dog above the word "GETROUWHEID" meaning loyalty, the symbolism of which carries us through time. Dogs, from antiquity to the present, have served as emblems of fidelity. Consider the Roman mosaics with cave canem, "beware of the dog," guarding homes, or the dogs depicted alongside aristocratic ladies in Renaissance portraits, symbolizing marital faithfulness. The emotional bond between humans and dogs taps into our deepest psychological needs for companionship and protection. Dogs elicit feelings of affection and trust, making them potent symbols of loyalty and unwavering devotion. The cyclical reappearance of the dog as a symbol underscores the continuity of human emotions. Transcending specific eras, the dog evokes universal feelings of love and fidelity.