Kop van een geit c. 1848 - 1854

Here we see a pencil sketch of a goat’s head by Christian Heinrich Gottlieb Steuerwald. The goat, an age-old symbol, peers out from behind a wooden structure. This image carries a rich, complex set of cultural associations. The goat, or capra, as an icon, is as old as time. In ancient Greece, it was associated with fertility and the wild, untamed aspects of nature, linked to Pan and Dionysus. Consider how this contrasts with its occasional representation as a symbol of sacrifice and sin in Judeo-Christian traditions, a scapegoat bearing the burdens of humanity. Notice the contrast between the animal's soft features and the hard lines of the wood; it suggests a tension between nature and human structures. Our collective memory imbues this creature with a deep resonance, whether it be one of vitality or contrition, continuing its dance through our cultural consciousness.