Geit 1780 - 1855

Curator: This is "Geit," an engraving attributed to Jan Dasveldt, created sometime between 1780 and 1855. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the texture. The animal's fur seems almost tactile, despite being rendered with such delicate lines. And there's a definite mood of wary resignation about the creature. Curator: Interesting observation. The process of engraving would have been quite labor-intensive. Think of the craftsman meticulously etching each line into the plate, controlling the depth to achieve those subtle gradations in tone that give the goat its almost three-dimensional presence. We're seeing both animal husbandry and craft labour converging. Editor: Absolutely. And consider the goat itself as a loaded image. Throughout history, the goat appears as a symbol of virility, stubbornness, and even the demonic. This particular goat, with its intense stare and slightly dishevelled appearance, feels more like a creature caught between worlds, or perhaps even embodying a rustic defiance. Curator: The choice to depict a common farm animal during this period is significant. Engravings were often disseminated as prints and the commercial aspects suggest that the artwork catered to a specific market or consumer, and there must have been something intriguing in the artist’s mind behind this image. What purpose did it serve to depict this familiar farmyard subject in such detail and making it into print? Was this part of the Romantic vision of idealised farm life or perhaps it touched more closely on everyday agrarian existences? Editor: Or perhaps it touches on older pagan associations that stubbornly persist beneath the veneer of civilization? Look at those eyes – they possess a deep intelligence, a connection to something ancient. The fact it’s presented so realistically makes that symbolic weight all the more potent. Even today, seeing this I reflect on my own upbringing on the family farm… This evokes quite some childhood memories. Curator: Fascinating how a simple engraving can carry such cultural baggage. Editor: Indeed, this work opens our minds up to how animals have deep seeded imagery across cultures, showing its meaning that evolves yet continues today. The convergence between folklore and modern interpretation is, to me, utterly intriguing!