Sheep 1901

"Sheep" is a 1901 photogravure by Austrian photographer Hans Watzek, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. Watzek, known for his pictorialist approach, captures two sheep grazing in a field with a hazy, atmospheric background. The soft focus and tonal range, characteristic of photogravure, lend a painterly quality to the image, emphasizing the serene and pastoral scene. This artistic rendering of a simple subject reflects the aesthetic ideals of Pictorialism, which sought to elevate photography as a fine art.