Hirtenpaar auf einer Weide bei der Rinderherde lagernd 

Curator: What a restful scene, wouldn’t you say? We are looking at a drawing titled “Hirtenpaar auf einer Weide bei der Rinderherde lagernd," which roughly translates to "Shepherd Couple Resting with Cattle in a Pasture.” It’s housed right here in the Städel Museum and rendered in chalk, pencil, and pen. The artist, Jacob van Strij, certainly captured a specific mood. Editor: Absolutely—it’s the pastoral dream, isn’t it? Immediately I’m struck by this incredibly tranquil mood and, strangely, by the cow's rear. Curator: The use of line certainly draws the eye; note how the artist plays with foreground and background through delicate shifts in pressure. Editor: Yes! Van Strij has coaxed remarkable volume out of minimal contrast; observe how soft chalk seems to cushion the resting cow, while, on the contrary, harsh angular pen strokes define our shepherd's crook, asserting its place as the only indication of action. It all coalesces in that central couple in the background: one active, one serene. And all of this pivots—hilariously, profoundly—on a cow's bum. Curator: Indeed. These contrasts serve to create a harmonious whole, balancing elements of work and rest. The artist skillfully uses hatching and cross-hatching to build up tone and texture. The layering creates a sense of depth, drawing the viewer into the tranquil Dutch landscape. Editor: You’re right to stress “harmonious,” even the sky cooperates! Have a peek: wispy pen lines conjure airy clouds as fleeting as the daydreams of our cowherds. Do you think this fleetingness comments on our perception of reality? Curator: I interpret this ethereal effect, primarily produced through very fine pen work, as serving to highlight the timeless quality of rural life, reflecting a larger interest within genre painting. Editor: You have a point there; Jacob van Strij used pen, pencil and chalk here in such a harmonious synergy as a statement—asserting his virtuosity not with brash flourishes but with elegant understatement, which somehow underscores my initial reaction about the work being profoundly, subtly witty. Curator: I agree. The synthesis of disparate elements—rough materiality rendered in exquisite refinement, humble subject matter ennobled through skillful composition—does produce a unique and lasting impression. Editor: Well said! In summary, keep that cheeky cow in mind; after all, our aesthetic experiences can surprise us in any guise!