Twee liggende rammen Possibly 1791 - 1943

"Twee liggende rammen," or "Two Lying Rams," is an etching made by Pieter Gerardus van Os, an artist who lived from 1776 to 1839. Van Os belonged to a family of artists, living in the Netherlands during a period of significant social and political change marked by both upheaval and nation building. His rustic images reflected an interest in country life which, in turn, was tied to notions of nationhood. These rams, rendered with a naturalist's keen eye, have a quiet grandeur. Van Os seemed to capture their likeness with care, giving the viewer the sense that they are encountering the animals in their natural habitat. They are presented without idealization; here are the sheep as they are, not as symbols, but as creatures. In a time of urbanization, such images offered viewers a pastoral escape and perhaps even inspiration for reimagining their relationship with nature. The artist's intimate portrayal asks us to consider our connections to the natural world, and perhaps recognize the beauty and dignity in simplicity.