Liggende får ved en træstub 1626 - 1678

Karel Du Jardin created this etching of a resting sheep during the Dutch Golden Age. The printmaking process involved coating a metal plate with wax, then drawing through it with a sharp needle to expose the metal. When immersed in acid, the exposed lines would be etched into the plate, allowing for multiple impressions to be made. Look closely, and you’ll see that the success of this image lies in the artist's mastery of line. The etching technique allows Du Jardin to build up tone and texture with remarkable precision, capturing the woolly fleece of the sheep. Notice the direction of the marks to create volume, and consider how this layering creates an illusion of depth and shadow, bringing the scene to life. As a print, this image could be widely distributed, catering to the growing middle class with an appetite for art. Du Jardin’s choice of subject matter also speaks to the era’s fascination with pastoral scenes, reflecting the Netherlands’ economic reliance on agriculture and wool production, turning working animals into an aesthetic commodity.