Landschap met drie rustende herders bij een kudde c. 1663 - 1726

Moise Jean Baptiste Fouard created this etching, depicting a "Landscape with Three Resting Shepherds by a Herd," during a time when pastoral scenes evoked a longing for simpler times. Note the recurring motif of the shepherd, protector, and guide. This archetype echoes through centuries, from ancient depictions of Hermes, guiding souls, to the Good Shepherd in Christian art, symbolizing divine care and salvation. But here, the shepherds are resting. They are failing in their duties. This reminds me of how Panofsky spoke of the concept of iconographic fatigue. Consider the presence of animals, central to this tableau. They represent both innocence and vulnerability, mirroring humanity's own complex relationship with the natural world. The artist consciously or subconsciously tapped into the collective memory, engaging viewers on a deeply felt, subconscious level. And so, the symbols of shepherds and animals resurface, transformed, and imbued with new meanings across history, reflecting our evolving understanding of ourselves and our place in the cosmos.