Herder met zijn kudde voor een boerderij 1640 - 1704

Editor: Here we have an engraving titled "Herder met zijn kudde voor een boerderij", or "Shepherd with his herd in front of a farm," dating from somewhere between 1640 and 1704 by an anonymous artist from the Dutch Golden Age, here at the Rijksmuseum. It gives off such a tranquil feeling, the way everything is nestled together. What strikes you most about it? Curator: It's a gorgeous window into a slower world, isn’t it? What intrigues me is the artist's choice to create a scene devoid of dramatic action, almost frozen in time. Look at how the textures are rendered through engraving – can you see how they mimic the softness of the animals' wool against the rough wood of the farmhouse? It almost feels like the landscape exhales a sigh of contentment. Does it evoke any particular narratives or memories for you? Editor: It does! It makes me think of summer afternoons spent reading in a field as a child. But how much of that idyllic vision is, perhaps, a romanticization? Curator: Precisely! That tension is essential. These idyllic scenes were often commissioned by city dwellers longing for the countryside's supposed simplicity. Yet, it conveniently glossed over the hard labor and realities of rural existence. The artist plays with this delicate balance. He invites us to escape but subtly reminds us not to get entirely lost in the fantasy. I wonder, looking at this image, whether the romanticisation that you identify might still be an impulse in how we seek connection with landscapes, nature and animals, even today? Editor: I never thought of it that way, but you're absolutely right! I'll definitely view pastoral art with a different perspective going forward. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It's always a treat to rediscover old landscapes through fresh eyes, isn't it?