Head of a Goat 1793

Editor: This is Johann Christian Reinhart's "Head of a Goat," and though it's undated, it looks like there's "1793" signed on the bottom. The cross-hatching gives it a lot of depth! How do you interpret the symbolism of the goat in this piece? Curator: The goat, across cultures, is a loaded symbol. Often tied to virility, stubbornness, and even scapegoating, it invites us to consider what attributes we project onto the animal world. Does its prominent display of teeth hint at a darker side? Editor: That's a good point, it could also just be chewing. Thanks for that perspective! Curator: And thank you for considering the complex visual heritage of our symbols!