Geitekop, naar links 1781 - 1822

Editor: This is "Geitekop, naar links," or "Goat's Head, Facing Left," a drawing made with ink on paper, sometime between 1781 and 1822 by Hermanus Fock. It's a strikingly simple portrait. It's making me think of folklore, and how different cultures might depict the goat as a symbol. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The goat, you see, has long held a prominent, if somewhat ambivalent, place in our collective visual memory. From the scapegoat of religious ritual to the symbol of virility in pagan traditions, its image is laden with meaning. Notice how Fock captures the animal's gaze; it’s knowing, almost unsettling. Do you feel any of that unsettling nature when looking at it? Editor: A little bit, yes! I mean, it’s just a drawing of a goat, but the intensity in its eye definitely holds my attention. Is that intentional, you think? Curator: Intention is always a tricky thing to pin down, isn’t it? However, consider how the artist uses the medium, the ink, to create such stark contrasts, light and shadow. It's more than simple realism; it’s imbuing the creature with a kind of…presence. The goat also has a Biblical meaning linked to Judgement day. Do you think that is what Hermanus intended by creating this drawing? Editor: Perhaps the drawing evokes that tension, linking something as simple as a farm animal to much grander, deeper stories. It’s fascinating how a seemingly simple drawing can carry so much cultural weight. Curator: Indeed! The image acts as a focal point for our shared understanding and interpretations of the culture.