Landschap met twee mannen met kudde geiten 1613 - 1666

Editor: Here we have Nicolas Perelle's "Landscape with Two Men Herding Goats," an engraving from sometime between 1613 and 1666. It’s housed at the Rijksmuseum. The circular composition gives it an intimate feel, despite depicting quite a broad landscape. What symbolic readings do you find compelling in this image? Curator: The very act of representing a landscape like this is rich with symbolic potential. Consider the use of the circle; what feelings might be evoked? Is it closure or protection? Editor: That's an interesting perspective. I initially saw it as framing or limiting the space. Curator: Perhaps it’s both? And what of the goats? Throughout art history, they can symbolize both fecundity and unbridled lust. What narrative implications arise from the convergence of landscape, human activity, and animal symbolism in this work? Editor: So the choice of goats specifically… that connects the pastoral scene to broader themes? Curator: Exactly! How does the composition itself contribute? Do you notice how the largest tree in the composition leans right into the scene to mirror a rock ledge at the left? Editor: That subtle balance creates an unexpected sense of harmony amidst the detailed, varied textures of nature. Curator: And do you notice a city at the edge of the image, almost disappearing into the clouds? How does the artwork tie the mundane tasks of country life to the more civil and perhaps even glorious life of the town? Editor: I hadn’t really considered the faint, dreamy city’s potential. The engraving invites many possible interpretations when observing closely. Curator: Absolutely! The act of image making holds meaning in itself.