En ged, et kid og kaniner i en stald 1859

Johannes Wilhelm Zillen made this etching, "A Goat, a Kid and Rabbits in a Stable", at an unknown date. Zillen lived during a time of significant social and economic change in Denmark, with the rise of industrialization and urbanization impacting rural life. In this intimate scene, Zillen offers us a glimpse into the rural world. The animals huddle together, evoking ideas about domesticity and the family unit. The mother goat stands protectively over her kid, while the rabbits nestle together in a basket. Think about the maternal instincts of the mother goat and how this contrasts with the vulnerability of the rabbits. It is interesting to consider how class dynamics play out in relation to this depiction of rural life. Zillen, who came from an artistic family, invites the viewer to reflect on the relationship between humans and animals.