Plate 37: Two Spaniels with a Gourd c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel rendered this image of spaniels with a gourd in watercolor and gouache. Notice how the composition is neatly framed within an oval, creating a contained world where nature and allegory meet. The juxtaposition of the two dogs, each meticulously detailed with careful brushstrokes to define their fur and form, sets up a formal dialogue. Above them, a gourd hangs, its textured surface rendered with precise strokes of green and yellow. Below, Latin text runs as a caption, grounding the image in a tradition of moralizing emblem books. Hoefnagel's technique reflects a broader intellectual interest in categorizing and understanding the natural world through empirical observation. The semiotic interplay between image and text encourages viewers to decode the underlying meanings, challenging fixed interpretations and inviting us to reflect on themes of nature, knowledge, and representation. The careful composition, detailed rendering, and intellectual framework position this artwork as both aesthetically pleasing and culturally significant.