Staande hond 1864 - 1936

Jan van Essen sketched this standing dog using graphite and opaque watercolor. This seemingly simple portrayal contains a wealth of cultural meaning if we look close enough. Throughout history, the dog has been a symbol of loyalty, vigilance, and companionship, recurring across various cultures from ancient Egypt, where they were revered as protectors, to classical Greece, often depicted alongside gods like Artemis and Hecate. We can see the echoes of these ancient roles even in van Essen’s modern rendering. Consider how this contrasts with the medieval perception of dogs as symbols of lust and greed. Over time, the dog, in artistic depictions, reflects a complex interplay between positive virtues and baser instincts, revealing how cultural memory shapes and reshapes our understanding. The image, with its rough lines, captures something primal, an emotional connection that transcends time.