Hovedet af en stud 1807 - 1881

Emmerik Høegh-Guldberg created this etching called 'Hovedet af en stud', or 'Head of a Steer' in English, sometime during the 19th century. The artist, who lived through a period of significant social and political change in Denmark, including the transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional democracy, presents us with a bull whose face and expression are quite human. The head of the bull is shown with various other sketches surrounding it, like a page of doodles. It's hard not to read an element of satire in Høegh-Guldberg's anthropomorphic depiction. One might consider the relationship between humans and animals, particularly the idea of domesticating or controlling nature. It reflects a society grappling with its own identity and place in a rapidly changing world. Consider what this image might be saying about power, control, and the way we perceive both ourselves and the natural world.