Ziegen (Goats) from Deutsche Graphiker der Gegenwart (German Printmakers of Our Time)

August Gaul

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a group of goats on a narrow, rocky pathway along a steep cliff edge. The perspective is slightly above eye level, looking down onto the path. Closest to us, a goat stands prominently, gazing forward, surrounded by others in a curved line along the cliff. In the distance to the right, more goats traverse the ridge against a sky with strokes indicating clouds. The horizon is high on the right, showing the steep terrain drop. The drawing style has sketchy brushstrokes with a monochrome palette of blacks and greys on off-white paper, emphasizing fur texture and landscape ruggedness. Sparse vegetation grows on the rocks, adding to the wild setting.