Three Goats 1758

Francesco Londonio etched these three goats sometime in the 1700s. While seemingly a simple pastoral scene, the image opens a rich field for exploration through the persistent symbol of the goat. Throughout history, the goat has embodied contradictory meanings. In some traditions, it represents virility and abundance, linked to the wild, untamed forces of nature, as seen in ancient Greek depictions of Pan, the god with goat-like features. However, the goat can also symbolize darker aspects, associated with chaos and the subconscious. Think of the demonized image of the goat in occult traditions, a distorted echo of its earlier, more ambiguous roles. The goat in Londonio's etching, with its strong horns and robust presence, evokes a sense of primal energy. Consider how such imagery might tap into our collective memory, stirring subconscious associations that are both compelling and unsettling. These goats are not mere animals; they are carriers of a complex cultural legacy, continuously reshaped by human imagination and fear.