Geiten op een boerenerf after 1635

This etching, titled "Goats in a Farmyard", was created by Frederick Bloemaert in the 17th century. The print offers us a glimpse into rural life, rendered entirely in monochrome. Bloemaert’s use of line and composition guide our eyes through the scene. Notice how the artist uses dense, cross-hatched lines to describe the varied textures of the goats’ shaggy coats. The architectural backdrop, depicted with an almost mathematical precision, contrasts with the organic forms of the animals. The careful arrangement of the goats creates a sense of depth, leading us from the foreground towards the buildings in the distance. In its structure, the print seems to be both a realistic depiction and an artful construction. This interplay between naturalism and formal design reflects the period's interest in cataloging the world, but also in refining it through artistic interpretation. Bloemaert invites us to consider the formal and the representational aspects of art, to find meaning not just in what is depicted, but how.