Plate 25: Two Wild Goats c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel created "Plate 25: Two Wild Goats" some time between 1542 and 1600, using watercolor and gouache, with metallic paint, on vellum. It is from a series of natural history illustrations commissioned by Emperor Rudolf II. Hoefnagel was a Flemish artist working at a time of growing scientific curiosity, when detailed observation and documentation of the natural world was flourishing. His choice of goats isn't accidental; the artist, through his careful rendering, invites us to consider them as more than just animals. In folklore, goats are symbols of both wildness and fertility, often associated with the untamed aspects of nature and female sexuality. The choice to depict two goats, one clearly female, invites a dialogue about gender roles and the natural world. The artist creates an arena to explore societal roles and expectations of the time. Hoefnagel’s "Two Wild Goats" isn’t just a scientific illustration, it’s a cultural artifact. It reflects the complex relationship between humans and nature, infused with the social and gendered lenses of the 16th century.