Liggende geit van achter gezien c. 1657 - 1761

Editor: So, we're looking at "Liggende geit van achter gezien," a resting goat seen from behind, by Marcus de Bye, dated around 1657 to 1761. It's an engraving, giving it a very detailed and linear feel. The goat seems very still and pensive. What catches your eye when you look at this print? Curator: Immediately, the stillness speaks to me. The goat is presented in repose, but that isn't just a picture of a goat taking a break. Consider the symbolism. Goats have been figures of both sacrifice and virility, chaos and vitality, across cultures and centuries. Why show it from the back? Editor: I suppose showing the goat from the back removes its face, therefore removing its character or emotion? It becomes more symbolic than personal. Curator: Precisely. It invites us to project our own interpretations. The lack of engagement lets us, maybe, engage more deeply. Think, too, about the era. Dutch Golden Age art often used animals to reflect societal values or even hidden moral messages. Does the goat represent stubbornness, or perhaps simple pastoral contentment? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way. I guess I assumed it was just a goat. It’s interesting how something so simple can hold so many potential layers of meaning. Curator: These engravings were often part of larger collections, studies of nature, so this work may have originally have formed part of a moral lesson or scientific inquiry. Its symbols still stir discussions and questions to this day. Editor: That’s fascinating. I'll never look at a goat the same way again! Curator: Art expands your vision in that very manner, offering more insights, and challenging previous perceptions.