Kop van een stier 1789 - 1859

Pieter de Goeje rendered this ‘Head of a Bull’ with pen in brown ink. The bull, an ancient symbol, resonates with primal forces. Consider the Cretan Bull, a figure of raw power tamed by Heracles, or the Minotaur, a monstrous embodiment of man's inner beast. Bulls appear in the art of diverse cultures, from the cave paintings of Lascaux to the Egyptian Apis, each bearing witness to our enduring fascination with this animal. Through time the bull has shifted from a symbol of virility and strength to one associated with stubbornness or aggression. Here, the bull exudes a quiet intensity. The deep, shadowed lines convey a sense of contained power, inviting us to contemplate the complex relationship between man and animal, culture and nature, intellect and instinct. It lingers in our collective memory, awaiting a modern reinterpretation, a new context in which its potent symbolism can resurface.