En hyrde (?) (efter litografi) 1813 - 1872

Andreas Flinch created this small engraving of a shepherd after a lithograph. The figure stands near what appears to be a millstone, the tools of labor echoing symbols of pastoral care and sustenance. The shepherd, a recurring motif throughout art history, carries layers of meaning, from ancient pagan symbols of fertility to Christian allegories of divine guidance. We can trace this image through the classical world to the Renaissance, and even find echoes in modern pastoral scenes. The shepherd and his tools speak to a primal connection with the land, a yearning for simpler times. Consider the millstone, a symbol of grinding, of transformation. It is a symbol of toil but also of bounty. Perhaps the artist, consciously or unconsciously, tapped into a collective memory, a shared human experience of labor and its fruits. These symbols are powerful forces, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. It's a reminder of the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth.