The Flock of Sheep 1661

Jacob van der Does painted this landscape with a flock of sheep using oil on canvas in the mid-17th century. Oil paint allows for a remarkable illusion of depth. Look closely, and you'll see how the artist built up layers to create the textures of wool, bark, and foliage. These naturalistic details are what would have appealed to the painting's original audience. Note how the composition implies not just observation, but also ownership of the scene. Van der Does presents an Arcadian vision of Holland, where land is managed for agricultural production. The sheep are therefore stand-ins for economic prosperity. The shepherds, barely visible at the periphery, are relegated to the margins, their labor all but erased. Paintings like this remind us that the pleasures we take in art are often tied to social and economic realities, challenging any straightforward separation of fine art from the crafts and trades.