Liggend schaap met dikke vacht 1805

Frédéric Théodore Faber created this etching of a resting sheep with a thick coat, sometime around 1805. The sheep, a symbol deeply embedded in our collective consciousness, carries diverse meanings across cultures and epochs. In Christianity, it represents innocence, purity, and sacrifice, often associated with Christ as the Lamb of God, a motif echoed in countless Renaissance paintings. Yet, venture further back, and we find the sheep in pagan rituals, linked to fertility and abundance. Consider the Golden Fleece of Greek mythology, sought after for its promise of prosperity and power. This symbol of the sheep resurfaces in medieval tapestries, Renaissance pastoral scenes, and even modern-day heraldry. This humble animal taps into a primal layer of our psyche. The thick wool, almost obscuring its form, evokes a sense of comfort and security. A silent presence that connects us to ancestral agrarian roots, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. The depiction, with its emphasis on the sheep's vulnerable repose, invites contemplation on themes of protection, vulnerability, and the cyclical nature of life.