Geit met jongen 1893

This is Frans Lebret's etching, "Geit met jongen," which translates to "Goat with Young," created in 1892. Lebret, a 19th-century artist, captures a seemingly simple scene, but within it lies a reflection of the era's complex relationship with nature and domesticity. Consider how gender roles might be subtly represented here. The mother goat stands protectively, embodying the maternal figure, while the young kids nestle close, vulnerable and dependent. How might this mirror societal expectations of women during Lebret's time? The intimate portrayal of the animals evokes a sense of empathy, and the viewer is drawn into the private world of this family. The landscape, though rustic, suggests a controlled environment, a farm perhaps. This hints at the larger socio-economic structures at play, where nature is both a source of sustenance and a subject of artistic contemplation. Lebret's etching invites us to reflect on the interplay between nature, culture, and the roles we assign within them.