Zich krabbende geit 1840

Hendrik Jozef Franciscus van der Poorten's "Zich krabbende geit" (Scratching Goat) from 1840 is a detailed pencil and wash drawing depicting a goat in a naturalistic pose. The goat is shown scratching its ear with its hind leg, a simple action rendered with great accuracy and precision. This work showcases van der Poorten's mastery of animal anatomy and his ability to capture the movement and grace of his subjects. The drawing, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, is a fine example of Dutch animal studies.