AA-2026-1A30B7
On the image
A wet English Setter stands patiently, its coat matted from recent aquatic adventures or perhaps a thorough bath. Someone is providing an encouraging hand on its neck, a common human ritual to signal approval, or maybe just to check if the dog is still cold.
The dog stares off-camera, probably at a squirrel or a fleeting memory of a particularly good stick. Its brass-coloured collar gleams faintly, a small but important accessory to signify ownership and the general order of things in the 1970s suburban landscape.
This moment captures the quiet, mutual understanding between species, where one receives affection and the other provides it, both completely unaware of how hair dryers and professional dog grooming would eventually change the entire dynamic.
The historian's note
This image depicts an English Setter, a breed recognised for its distinct speckled coat and use as a gundog, particularly for bird hunting. The dog's wet fur suggests it has recently been in water or received a bath.
The photograph was taken in the 1970s, a period when pet ownership in America was increasingly common, and specific breeds like the English Setter were popular family companions, often prized for both their temperament and sporting capabilities. The informal outdoor setting is typical of a casual domestic scene from the era.
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Wet English Setter and Owner, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-1A30B7. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/wet-english-setter-and-owner-1970s.
@misc{aaAA20261A30B7,
title = {Wet English Setter and Owner, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-1A30B7},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/wet-english-setter-and-owner-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Wet English Setter and Owner, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-1A30B7 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/wet-english-setter-and-owner-1970s ER -
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