Liggende geit, naar rechts 1851

Jacobus Cornelis Gaal created this etching of a goat titled "Liggende geit, naar rechts" sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Gaal was a Dutch painter and printmaker, best known for his landscape paintings and animal depictions. This image of a resting goat, common as they were in the Dutch landscape, invites us to consider the relationship between humans, animals, and the land. Gaal's detailed rendering captures the essence of rural life. Yet, as we gaze at this domesticated animal, collared and seemingly at ease, we might reflect on the history of human control over the natural world. Consider how gender and class dynamics might be subtly woven into this seemingly simple image. Whose labor tames the goat? Whose table is fed by it? The goat, though at rest, is still bound, a poignant reminder of our interconnectedness and dependence on the animal kingdom.