Rustende bok, poot bij oor 1657 - 1688

Curator: So, here we have Marcus de Bye’s etching, “Resting Goat, Paw by Ear,” dating from sometime between 1657 and 1688. It’s currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Editor: First thing I notice is how relaxed this creature looks. Utterly unbothered, like the weight of the world just slid off its hairy shoulders. Makes me want to chuck my phone in a pond and join it. Curator: Indeed, there’s a definite sense of serenity. De Bye was known for his detailed depictions of animals within landscapes, often drawing from life. It reflects a broader interest in the natural world that gained momentum during that period. Think of it as a very early nature documentary. Editor: Documentary is one word; I'm seeing personality! Look at the way the artist captured the texture of its fur with such delicate lines. You can almost feel the sun warming its wool. The Baroque wasn’t always so sensitive, right? Usually big, theatrical statements... Curator: Well, the Baroque wasn’t monolithic. While grandeur and drama were certainly hallmarks, there was also a strong undercurrent of naturalism, particularly in Dutch art. De Bye's work aligns with the scientific curiosity of the age, a desire to catalog and understand the world empirically. The growth of a middle class that purchased and consumed art impacted the popularity of these domestic scenes. Editor: And maybe it speaks to something timeless, too. An enduring appreciation for the simple beauty of an animal in repose. It's honest. It makes you realize we all need to scratch an itch now and then! Curator: Precisely! And I would suggest that the seemingly simple image also embodies social and economic history, in that it provides tangible, primary source material about evolving attitudes towards animals and the natural world within 17th-century Dutch society. Editor: In other words, art captures little moments in history that become bigger stories. I get that. It reminds us that every now and again, we really need to take a load off. Just be a goat sometimes! Curator: Exactly. And perhaps that's the power of art: it helps us to see, and be, the world from new angles. Editor: A good excuse to stop, stare, and scratch our ears along the way!