Liggende geit en schaap en staand schaap bij houten hek 1665

Johann Heinrich Roos made this etching of a goat and sheep near a wooden fence sometime in the 17th century. Roos worked in Germany and the Netherlands, and specialized in idyllic pastoral scenes of animals. Throughout much of Europe at this time, country life was being idealized in art and literature. This was a period of growing cities and expanding international trade, but many artists expressed nostalgia for a simpler rural past. In this image, the animals appear calm and peaceful as they rest in a verdant landscape. The rough wooden fence and gnarled tree trunk add to the scene’s rustic charm. Of course, the reality of 17th-century farm life was likely much harsher. So, it’s important to recognize that Roos’s image is not a straightforward depiction of reality, but rather a carefully constructed fantasy. By studying these kinds of images, we can better understand how ideas about nature and rural life were changing during this period. We can find the roots of those notions in the culture of the time.