Boerderij en herder met schaap 1614

Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert created this print titled ‘Farm and Shepherd with Sheep’. Prints like this one gained popularity as the Dutch Republic acquired land, wealth, and power through maritime trade and colonization. What did it mean to create and consume idealized images of rural life amidst these imperial activities? Dutch art often romanticized pastoral scenes, presenting a vision of harmony and simplicity that contrasted sharply with the socio-political realities of the time. Take a moment to notice the shepherd in the foreground of the print. How does Bolswert portray this figure, and what does this say about the artist’s, or the Dutch, perspective on rural laborers? How does the positioning of the farm buildings affect our understanding of land ownership and use? This print invites us to consider the complexities of Dutch identity, and to ask critical questions about the stories we tell ourselves about our connection to the land.