Feeding the Geese 

David Bates painted 'Feeding the Geese' in the late 19th or early 20th century using oil on canvas. It depicts a woman, perhaps a mother, carrying what appears to be food for geese, set within a pastoral, verdant landscape. Consider the goose, a symbol long steeped in cultural significance. The image of fowl echoes back to ancient Egypt, where geese were associated with Amun-Ra, representing creation and cosmic order. In European folklore, geese often symbolized domesticity, vigilance, and prosperity—qualities subtly reinforced by their presence in this tranquil countryside scene. Here, the geese are not divine symbols, but rather, elements of everyday life. The woman's nurturing gesture binds her to these creatures, evoking a primeval connection between humans and the natural world. Across the ages, depictions of women in harmony with animals resonate with themes of fertility and maternal care, reflecting enduring archetypes deeply ingrained in our collective psyche. The symbolism reminds us that images possess a life of their own, evolving as they traverse time, continually reshaped by the human experiences they mirror.