Liggende schapen 1791 - 1839

Pieter Gerardus van Os made this etching of sheep sometime in the early 19th century. The print depicts three sheep resting beneath a tree, seemingly at peace. But beyond its pastoral calm, this image speaks to a moment of significant agricultural and economic change in the Netherlands. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Dutch agriculture was undergoing modernization. New farming techniques and land management practices were being introduced, impacting traditional rural life. The image creates meaning through its idyllic representation of the countryside. Was this a comment on the changing relationship between humans and nature? Perhaps, this picture references the growing importance of animal husbandry during the period? Was Van Os portraying the way of life that was already disappearing? The role of the historian is to consider the context in which this artwork was made. By researching agricultural practices, economic data, and artistic trends of the time, we can better understand the values and anxieties reflected in this seemingly simple scene.