Portretten van twee onbekende vrouwen, beiden als herderin 1640

This 1640 etching by Crispijn van de Passe (II) depicts two unidentified women, each portrayed as a shepherdess. The women are shown in oval frames, with their names - "Falconetta" and "Anhela" - inscribed above them. Both figures are depicted against a backdrop of an urban cityscape, likely a reference to the Dutch Golden Age's thriving cities. The women's attire, the shepherd's crook and the stylized flowers in their hands suggest a pastoral theme. This piece, now part of the Rijksmuseum collection, exemplifies the popularity of the shepherdess motif during the 17th century, signifying virtue and the allure of a simpler, idealized life.