Art is considered a medium where anything can be depicted. The subjects are usually human beings, but there are some of these that feature animals. Dogs, for example, are shown in different ways such as paintings, statues, and even films.
What are some of these well-loved portrayals?
1. Lassie
The fictional canine was created by the novelist named Eric Knight. It tells the story of a collie going through a long journey to be reunited with her original owner, who had to sell her for money of poverty. It was then adapted to the silver screen in 1943, and it received positive criticism from viewers despite some sensitive scenes involving poverty, violence, and peril. One of these heart-wrenching moments involves a little kid who was forced to tell his pet that she is unwanted in the family. Despite the fact that animals do not understand human language, one cannot help but be moved because of the kid’s loving attachment to his pet. Because of this, the determination shown by the canine to go back to the home where he came from gained a lot of praise because it can be likened to a human quest to see his loved ones again after a long time being apart.
2. Hachiko
This Akita made it to the limelight because of the loyalty he demonstrated to his master, Hidesaburo Ueno, an agriculture professor at the University of Tokyo. And because this loyal act, Hachiko was made the subject of the Japanese film “Hachiko Monogatari” (The Tale of Hachiko), which was also adopted in American version in the 2009 movie “Hachiko: A Dog’s Story”.
Ueno and Hachiko had made it habit to greet each other at the Shibuya Train Station every day for over a year until the educator died of cerebral haemorrhage. But despite this unfortunate event, the dog still waited patiently for nine long years in the same place where they are supposed to meet. The loyalty of the animal to its human owner made the movie a black buster film, especially for those who are looking for a real good drama.
3. El Perro
This is the unofficial name of one of the “Black Paintings” done by Francisco Goya. It shows a dog’s head gazing upwards with his body hidden behind an unidentified mass that slopes upward. A faint shape seemingly “looks” at the creature. The artist himself never explained the meaning of his work, but it is often seen as the hopeless struggle of man against the various elements that go against him in life. This is first shown by the huge mass that “buries” the canine. A second element that makes one interpret it in the same way the past viewers do is because of the vast sky which looks empty and intensifies the hopelessness of the situation. The way it looks up to the sky either show that he is seeking divine intervention or that he is afraid of something that is beyond the image. Nobody really knows what the painting means, but it remains to be an interesting work that rouses curiosity.
These are just a few pieces worth checking out. However, you can also choose to take the time to search for these in an art museum near you.