Slang wurgt een geit 1870 - 1937

This is Willem Wenckebach’s drawing *Slang wurgt een geit*, or *Snake Strangling a Goat*. The drawing portrays a snake coiled tightly around a goat. The goat is a symbol of innocence and vulnerability, while the snake, a symbol of cunning and primal instinct, represents the ever-present potential for corruption. Consider the Laocoön sculpture from antiquity, where snakes similarly represent doom. The image of the snake's grip has continued to surface, such as in depictions of the temptation of Eve, where the serpent symbolizes hidden, often dangerous knowledge. The act of strangling, a primal method of overpowering, evokes feelings of helplessness, a reflection of the darker aspects of human nature. These echoes of past and present reveal the cyclical nature of symbols. Though contexts change, the essence of these symbols resonates with the collective human experience, tapping into deeply rooted emotional and psychological responses.