Twee liggende geiten 1822 - 1899

Simon van den Berg created this etching of two lying goats sometime in the 19th century. On the face of it, the image shows us a humble scene of rural life but, like many such works at this time, it speaks to a particular set of social and institutional values. Consider the cultural context of the Netherlands in the 1800s; the rise of landscape painting went hand in hand with the growth of national consciousness. Etchings like this one, with their seemingly objective depictions of nature, actually helped to shape a shared sense of identity, reinforcing ideas about the beauty and value of the Dutch countryside. Artists often played a role in promoting particular views of nature and nationhood. To understand this work further, we can research the artist's life, exhibition histories, and critical reviews. By exploring these avenues, we begin to see how seemingly simple images can be deeply embedded in social and institutional contexts.