Two Goats with Large Horns, from Various Animals - Nicolaes Berchem

Two Goats with Large Horns, from Various Animals - Nicolaes Berchem
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Potter Palmer
Drawings Prints
"Two Goats with Large Horns, from Various Animals" by Nicolaes Berchem (17th century) Etching on paper.

Commentary

Commentary

"Two Goats with Large Horns, from Various Animals" by Nicolaes Berchem (17th century) invites a close look at how form and feeling work together. The print-based method rewards close viewing, where line, textu re, and contrast do most of the expressive work. Themes to notice include etching. This piece is held in the source collection's Prints and Drawings collection. Nicolaes Berchem is the artist behind this work. A useful anchor for reading the piece: Nicolaes Berchem Dutch, 1620-1683. The work is cataloged within a Holland cultural context. How to look at this work: It is cataloged as etching, which gives a clue to how the museum frames the object. Its medium (Etching on paper) affects texture, durability, and how detail reads at different distances. Its listed dimensions (Plate: 10 × 11 cm (3 15/16 × 4 3/8 in.)) suggest how intimate or monumental it may feel in person. Subject cues from the catalog include etching. Compare this reading with the museum record at the source collection: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/13006
Sources: Art Institute of Chicago; Art Institute of Chicago / Public Records; Art Institute of Chicago Collection Data