En ged med klokke 1857

Johannes Zillen created this etching of a goat with a bell sometime in the mid-19th century. The image presents us with a domesticated animal, a goat wearing a bell standing on a small cliff overlooking water. Made in Denmark, this work reflects a Northern European interest in landscape and rural life that emerged in the wake of urbanization. As cities grew, so did a nostalgia for the countryside. Here, the goat, a symbol of pastoral simplicity, is adorned with a bell. This small detail speaks volumes about human intervention in nature and the desire to control and manage even the most humble of creatures. To fully understand this etching, we would need to delve into the artistic conventions of 19th-century Danish art and the social history of its production and reception. Only then can we appreciate the nuanced dialogue between nature, culture, and the artist's own perspective.