Tijger en een geit 1792

Reinier Vinkeles created this small engraving titled 'Tiger and Goat' sometime before his death in 1816. The image depicts a tiger seated beneath a tree, gazing up at a goat perched atop a rocky crag. Engravings like this one were popular in the 18th century, a time when European colonial powers were expanding their reach across the globe. Animals, particularly exotic ones, became symbols of the 'New World,' a concept that carried exotic and violent undertones. The 'Tiger and Goat' seems to evoke prevailing colonial narratives of dominance and vulnerability. Think about it – the tiger, a symbol of raw power, staring intently at the goat, a more docile and perhaps naive creature. It makes you wonder about the power dynamics at play and what the future holds for the goat. The work offers a glimpse into how the natural world was perceived and used to reflect human-centered power structures during an age of exploration and exploitation.