A Dog
1660s
Cornelis Saftleven captures a candid, almost humorous moment of canine life in this lively sketch from the 1660s. The large, scruffy dog is caught mid-stretch—front paws splayed and back arched—resembling a perfect 'downward dog' yoga pose centuries before the trend existed. As a Dutch Baroque artist, Saftleven was renowned for his animal studies, and here he uses loose, energetic strokes to convey the texture of the fur and the animal's movement. It feels less like a formal portrait and more like a quick, affectionate snapshot of a pet waking up from a nap.
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