Mother goat and suckling kid 1727 - 1737

This is a porcelain sculpture of a mother goat suckling her kid, crafted by the Meissen Manufactory. The tender scene embodies the nurturing aspect of motherhood, a theme that resonates across cultures and epochs. The motif of a goat nourishing its young appears throughout history, from ancient mythology where goats were associated with fertility and abundance, to Christian symbolism, where the goat, paradoxically, could represent both the damned and, in the context of maternal care, the embodiment of charity. Observe the emotional intensity of the scene. The protective posture of the mother, the innocent dependence of the kid, and the act of suckling, all evoke primordial feelings tied to survival, love, and the cycle of life. It is a tableau that engages us on a visceral level, reminding us of the enduring power of maternal instinct. The image of the goat shifts and evolves, carrying cultural and psychological weight across time and space. Its continuous reappearance underscores how our collective memory shapes and reshapes symbols, endowing them with ever-changing meanings.