Artwork

Capra neagră

Capra neagră, by Sava Henția, unspecified, 1877
Capra neagră, by Sava Henția, unspecified, 1877

Capra neagră is an unspecified painting by the Biedermeier artist Sava Henția. It dates from 1877 and is held in the collection of the Bucharest Municipality Museum.

About this work

Overview

Capra neagră, created by Sava Henția in 1877, is a painting housed in the Museum of Ethnography. It depicts a somber scene of a dark, shaggy animal amidst a rocky landscape, accompanied by a deceased goat.

Subject & Meaning

The subject revolves around the juxtaposition of life and death, with a living animal (possibly a goat, given the title) and a dead goat with curved horns. The scene may symbolize the cycle of life or the harshness of nature.

Technique & Style

Henția employed bold, expressive brushstrokes to achieve a nearly three-dimensional texture of the living animal's fur. The painting utilizes chiaroscuro, characterized by strong contrasts between light and dark, enhancing the dramatic and somber atmosphere.

History & Provenance

Created during the Biedermeier period in 1877 by Sava Henția, an artist of Imperial Austrian birth who worked in Romania, Capra neagră is now part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection.

Context

While the Biedermeier period often emphasized comfort and domesticity, Henția's work here diverges, focusing on a rugged, outdoor setting with themes of life, death, and natural texture.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Sava Henția

Artist

Sava Henția

Sava Henția (1 February 1848, Sebeșel - 21 February 1904, Sebeșel) was an Imperial Austrian-born Romanian painter, decorator and illustrator.