The Good Shepherd c. 1585

Editor: This is "The Good Shepherd" by Julius Goltzius. It’s a beautiful colored print. I’m curious about the tension between the figures in the foreground and the calm village in the background. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This print offers a lens through which to explore themes of power, protection, and vulnerability within 16th-century social structures. How does the imagery of the shepherd, often associated with religious authority, intersect with the depiction of the working class in the background? Editor: So, it’s not just a religious scene, but also a commentary on class? Curator: Precisely. Consider how the artist positions the shepherd in relation to the "flock," and also to the societal backdrop. What power dynamics might be at play? Editor: I see it now. I hadn't thought of it like that. Curator: Thinking about it this way opens up new paths for interpretation.