Goats, from Various Animals c. 17th century

Nicolaes Berchem created this etching of goats as part of his "Various Animals" series in the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by unprecedented economic prosperity and artistic flourishing. Berchem, who specialized in pastoral landscapes, here presents a view of goats, animals often associated with rusticity and the countryside. During the 17th century, the Netherlands witnessed a surge in urbanization and commercial activity. As a result, there was a growing interest in idealized depictions of rural life. Berchem and his contemporaries provided the urban elite with nostalgic images of what was perceived as a simpler, more authentic existence. This etching invites reflection on the cultural construction of nature. How the burgeoning middle class negotiated their relationship with the land, even as they accumulated wealth in urban centers. It presents a constructed, idealized version of the rural world that resonates with the complex interplay of identity, longing, and social change.