Twee geiten en een schaap 1754

Curator: Here we have an etching by Joseph (I) Roos, made in 1754. It’s titled "Twee geiten en een schaap"—"Two Goats and a Sheep." It’s part of the Rijksmuseum's collection. Editor: You know, immediately, there's something about the relaxed nature that I enjoy. A calm feeling settles as my gaze lingers, like witnessing a brief respite within an old pastoral tale. Curator: Roos, known primarily for his landscape work, was capturing a vision rooted in an artistic practice of realism with farm animals. You get that from the lines used to depict the texture of the animal's coats. In the composition, you can discern at least two goats and perhaps the vague contour of a sheep huddled at the far left of the print. It seems like the sheep wants to join in on that nap! Editor: I appreciate how seemingly effortless it all is. You get the sense that the animals’ day follows a peaceful, quiet routine. There's so much implied narrative. Are these escapees? The way they are framed, it hints that they stand for resilience or nonconformity or something along those lines, but at least with dignity and a touch of melancholy! Curator: Interesting. Farm animals were heavily symbolic and their depictions in art at that time spoke to wealth, prosperity, the rural idyll. And the Christian tradition associated sheep with gentleness, and, more deeply, with humanity under the care of God, and goats, frequently featured alongside sheep, offered a contrasting symbol that stood for human obstinance, even wickedness. They seem peacefully juxtaposed here though. Editor: That’s curious. Roos created that effect, which is probably intentional. This visual paradox makes it thought-provoking! Perhaps Roos was implying, against prevailing thought, a kinship between them or between those traits and qualities that humans often like to keep distinct. What if what sets us apart, ultimately, connects us? Curator: Roos presents a rather humble etching and his choice of pastoral animals in the artwork can lend a greater degree of thoughtfulness. It's clear that these pieces of cultural symbols continue to evolve over the years. Editor: Absolutely! This journey into visual language feels more rewarding than I first thought.