Goatetch 

Sue Coe created this stark image of a goat, its darkness contrasting sharply with the bright background, forcing us to confront its gaze. The most striking element is the tag bearing the number 698, a modern symbol of industrial efficiency, stripping the animal of its identity, reducing it to a mere commodity. This act of numbering echoes ancient practices of branding livestock, a symbol of ownership. But consider, too, how numbers have been used to dehumanize in times of conflict. The goat, often a symbol of virility and sacrifice in pagan rituals, now stands as a voiceless victim, an allegorical representation of helplessness against the machinery of modern existence. This image serves as a mirror, reflecting our collective unease about our treatment of the natural world, the ethical compromises of industrialization. The goat’s mournful eye, a poignant reminder of the emotional and psychological weight we carry.