Artwork
Goat on a small Bridge
Goat on a small Bridge is an ink print by the Baroque artist Allart van Everdingen. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1650, this small-scale etching portrays a tranquil countryside scene in which a goat balances on a narrow bridge crossing a gently flowing stream. The composition extends from a rocky foreground on the left, across the bridge, and into a wooded background where a distant figure is engaged in an everyday activity.
Subject & Meaning
The central animal, a goat, serves as a quiet focal point, emphasizing the harmony between human habitation and pastoral life. A solitary figure farther downstream suggests routine labor such as fishing or washing, reinforcing the work’s depiction of ordinary rural moments within a serene natural setting.
Technique & Style
Executed in copperplate etching, the artist employs fine lines to render textures of water, bark, and stone, while varying tonal contrasts give depth to the landscape. The interplay of light and shadow creates a sense of volume, characteristic of Dutch printmaking’s attention to atmospheric perspective during the mid‑seventeenth century.
History & Provenance
The print is attributed to Jan Everdingen, a Dutch painter and printmaker active during the Golden Age, known for his etchings and mezzotints. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the work is documented in several 17th‑century collections of Dutch prints, indicating its circulation among connoisseurs of the period.
Context
Everdingen’s print aligns with the Baroque interest in detailed, naturalistic landscapes that combine everyday life with subtle narrative elements. The inclusion of a domestic animal and a laboring figure reflects contemporary Dutch society’s focus on modest, agrarian subjects, a theme common among his contemporaries.
Artist & collection
Artist
Allaert van Everdingen (Dutch pronunciation: ; bapt. 18 June 1621 – 8 November 1675 (buried)), was a Dutch Golden Age painter and printmaker in etching and mezzotint.
