College Animals

In College Animals, a bearded goat in a rich purple robe stands at a raised, cloth-covered table at the center of a dim interior, surrounded by a crowd of anthropomorphic animals and scholars who study, read, or play instruments. The composition forms a loose triangle that centers on the robed figure, with figures arrayed along the foreground and around a tall column and architectural backdrop, creating a sense of depth and activity. The palette is warm and earthy—browns, ochres, and reds—with careful handling of light and shadow, characteristic of Dutch Baroque genre painting and Saftleven’s humorous, satirical animal portraits.