Jupiter wordt gevoed door de geit Amalthea 1652 - 1690

Editor: Here we have an engraving from the late 17th century, "Jupiter wordt gevoed door de geit Amalthea," or "Jupiter being fed by the goat Amalthea." It looks to me like it's an allegorical scene, classical but also… kind of strange and unsettling. What do you see in this print? Curator: Strange and unsettling! I love that. It hits a nerve, doesn’t it? I see a raw and visceral depiction of divine infancy. Forget the cute cherubs, here we have a ravenous, utterly dependent little godling. I get the sense the artist, probably looking back to the classics, really dove deep into what it means to be utterly dependent on nature. It’s as if the divine relies entirely on the generosity— or even whims— of the earthly. You almost wonder if they are mocking divinity itself? Editor: So, like, is the goat a symbol of nurture or something else entirely? Is that a satyr? The composition is kind of all over the place. Curator: Good questions. Think of Amalthea the goat, perhaps, as untamed provision, abundance without refinement. That satyr definitely adds to the chaos! The composition reflects that energy, that feeling. See how everyone's vying for position around the future god? It's as if nature is throwing everything it has at young Jupiter. Editor: So it’s like a visual argument? Nature versus nurture…and some kind of uninhibited chaos in the mix? Curator: Exactly! It presents this whole scene as both comical and foundational. Do you notice the artist playing with the light to direct the attention towards the baby's gesture? Very baroque in feeling. A theatrical moment with divine significance at stake. Editor: I see what you mean, nature is offering this crude nurture that defines Jupiter, sets his foundation… It's funny how such an old image can feel so relevant even now. Curator: Art has a funny way of echoing through the ages. And sometimes it helps reveal something new each time you view it. I think I want a glass of goat milk.