Servet van damast met dessin Bokken 1900 - 1935

This damask napkin, featuring a design of goats, was created by Chris Lebeau. These goats, or "bokken" as they're called in Dutch, immediately bring to mind ancient symbols of fertility and vitality. Across cultures, the goat has often been associated with virility and untamed nature, from the Greek god Pan to various pagan rituals. Notice how Lebeau's design captures the animal's robust form with rhythmic lines. However, the image of the goat also carries a darker resonance. In some traditions, it is linked to malevolence, a scapegoat for humanity's sins. Think of the medieval depictions of the Devil, often rendered with goat-like features, embodying temptation and primal instincts. The duality of this symbol is quite striking. It reveals how cultural memory operates, layering contradictory meanings onto a single image. The "bokken" here are not merely decorative; they stir deep-seated emotions and beliefs. This symbol continues its cyclical journey through art history, reappearing and evolving in ways that reflect our ever-changing relationship with nature and the subconscious.