The Return 1864

"The Return" is an etching by Charles Jacque from 1864, currently located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The print depicts a shepherd leading a flock of sheep into a barn, with a single dog lying in the foreground. Jacque, known for his depictions of rural scenes, masterfully captures the tranquility of a pastoral life. The fine lines and hatching of the etching create a sense of depth and texture, rendering the sheep's wool, the barn's rough walls, and the shepherd's worn clothes with remarkable realism. This work is characteristic of Jacque's oeuvre, which focused on the simple pleasures of nature and the humble lives of those who lived in close connection with the land.