Plate 9: Two goats resting to right, turned towards the left, four men and a horse in a river in the background, from 'Various Figures' (Agréable diversité de figures) 1642

Editor: This etching, "Two goats resting to right...", was created in 1642 by Stefano della Bella. I’m struck by how tranquil and almost mundane the scene is, given the Baroque style; there are just some men with a horse in the background and goats resting nearby. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Look at how Della Bella has positioned the goats so prominently, giving them such detail. Goats are an ancient symbol, often associated with virility, stubbornness, but also, and rather wonderfully here, with provision and nourishment in pastoral life. What do you make of their placement in the foreground in contrast with the tiny men further back? Editor: That's an interesting perspective. I just assumed the goats were, well, just goats! It almost feels like they’re guarding the people in the river, or perhaps they are oblivious to them. Curator: Precisely! And consider the act of "crossing over," which is what the men and the horse are engaged in. In countless cultures, crossing water signifies a transition, a journey, perhaps even a spiritual cleansing. Does this then elevate these figures to those undertaking a kind of symbolic journey, blessed or protected by the foregrounded goats? Editor: I see what you mean! Now I notice how deliberately the goats seem to observe them, rather than just existing. And the choice to use etching lends a certain gravity to this piece. Curator: This isn't simply a landscape, it's loaded with coded gestures, shared cultural memory and continuous re-negotiation, linking us to centuries of pastoral symbolism. Even in supposed tranquility, stories linger. Editor: I'm starting to appreciate how much I miss by not digging deeper into visual clues and symbols. Thanks!