Plate 24: A Wild Goat and a Barbary Sheep(?) c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel created this watercolor around the late 16th century. It depicts two goats within a meticulously rendered oval frame, immediately drawing us into a world of precise detail and balanced composition. The juxtaposition of the wild goat, with its flowing grey coat, against the shorter-haired Barbary sheep creates a compelling visual contrast. Hoefnagel masterfully employs line and color to differentiate the textures and forms of the animals, each posed atop rocky outcrops that suggest a rugged, natural habitat. The animals invite semiotic interpretation; the goat with its long beard and grey fur, in opposition to the Barbary sheep with shorter brown fur. The arrangement of the goats within the frame is not merely decorative. It's a carefully constructed display of natural forms meant to destabilize the boundary between art and nature, knowledge and representation. Note how Hoefnagel uses the frame to contain and elevate his subjects, turning them into objects of both scientific study and aesthetic appreciation. This artistic choice reflects a broader cultural interest in categorizing and understanding the natural world through visual means.