Vijf schapen in een weide 1809 - 1841

Joannes Bemme created this artwork, 'Vijf schapen in een weide', an etching, at an unknown date. It depicts five sheep in a meadow and transports us to a rural scene, reflective of the broader societal value placed on agrarian life and the pastoral tradition during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Bemme seems to engage with and gently subvert traditional representations. While the artwork maintains the conventional theme of pastoral beauty, it infuses a sense of quiet contemplation. The sheep aren't idealized symbols but seem to reflect the rhythms of nature and the simple truths of animal existence. This etching also highlights the economic importance of sheep in Dutch society. The sheep represent a source of livelihood and sustenance. Their wool, a commodity traded and transformed into textiles, played a key role in local and international markets. 'Vijf schapen in een weide' then, is not just a scene of pastoral tranquility, but also subtly hints at the social and economic undercurrents of its time.