Artwork
Hunting a Goat
Hunting a Goat is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Paulus Potter. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a man armed with a rifle alongside the titular animal, illustrating a direct narrative of the hunt.
Created in 1650 by Paulus Potter, this oil painting on panel depicts a genre scene centered on the act of hunting a goat. The composition features a man armed with a rifle alongside the titular animal, illustrating a direct narrative of the hunt. As a work of genre art, the piece focuses on representing a specific moment of human interaction with nature and wildlife rather than employing complex allegorical symbolism. The straightforward depiction emphasizes the realistic portrayal of the figures and the hunting activity itself.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1650, Hunting a Goat is an oil painting applied on a wooden panel. The work measures 17 cm in height and 19.8 cm in width. As a genre scene, the composition depicts a man engaged in hunting a goat, with a rifle included among the depicted elements. The piece is classified as a painting within the genre art tradition.
History & Provenance
Hunting a Goat is a 1650 oil painting on panel by Paulus Potter, depicting a man hunting a goat with a rifle. It measures 17 cm in height and 19.8 cm in width. The work entered the collection of the Hermitage Museum, where it remains on display.
The painting was created in 1650 and has been part of the Hermitage Museum's collection since its acquisition, reflecting a continuous ownership chain from the artist to the institution.
The painting Hunting a Goat by Paulus Potter is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. Created in 1650, the work is executed in oil paint on a panel measuring 17 cm by 19.8 cm. The available sources confirm its location within the museum but do not provide a specific inventory or accession number. Furthermore, no information regarding the exhibition history of this specific work is present in the provided records.
Overview
Created circa 1650 by Dutch artist Paulus Potter, Hunting a Goat is an oil painting that captures a moment of rural pursuit. The work is part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection and exemplifies Potter’s focus on everyday animal scenes during the Dutch Golden Age.
Context
Hunting a Goat belongs to the Dutch genre tradition that celebrated ordinary activities and the natural world. While many contemporaries focused on market scenes or domestic interiors, Potter’s dedication to animal subjects offered a distinct perspective on rural labor and the relationship between humans and livestock.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Paulus Potter (Dutch pronunciation:; 20 November 1625 (baptised) – 17 January 1654 (buried)) was a Dutch painter who specialized in landscapes featuring animals, often from a low vantage point.
