Twee schaapsherderinnen met kudde 1687 - 1748

Curator: This is an engraving entitled "Twee schaapsherderinnen met kudde," or "Two Shepherdesses with Flock," made sometime between 1687 and 1748 by Martin Schedel. The medium here is the key; engraving lends a particular crispness to the pastoral scene. What strikes you most? Editor: Immediately, I’m drawn to the composition. It feels almost classical, idealized. The figures seem quite removed from the grit and realities of agricultural labor. They look almost like they are sitting on a cloud. Curator: Right, the idealization. The linear precision of the engraving allows for the creation of soft gradations and textures, almost a trompe-l'œil effect. You almost feel the fabric and wool. But think about the physical demands of engraving – the labor that goes into it, the skill, to produce this soft, dreamlike vision of agrarian life. Editor: And it makes me think about the power dynamics embedded in that idyllic image. Who is this being produced for? Is this consumption driven by a desire for romantic escapism of what "simple life" means, obscuring the class relations at play? What does it mean to view labour from the removed, upper classes? Curator: Exactly, it's crucial to remember who the intended audience would have been. Was it a collectible print for wealthy landowners, a signifier of status perhaps? The very material of an engraved print speaks to a certain level of affordability and prestige. Editor: Thinking about the shepherdesses themselves, the active role they seem to have in contrast with the traditional images from that period are so fascinating! Curator: Good point. It's this tension, between the technical skill, the economic factors, and the representation itself, that makes this engraving so compelling. Thank you for illuminating the nuances so wonderfully! Editor: Indeed, looking at it through a lens of social context encourages us to think critically about whose stories get told, and how, which are obscured, and for what end. A great piece for consideration!