Herders met vee in een berglandschap 1769

Jacob van de Velde created this etching of herders with livestock in a mountainous landscape in the 18th century. The sheep, cows, and horses, rendered with an almost casual simplicity, are central. The grouping of animals around human figures is an ancient motif. Think back to the earliest depictions of the Good Shepherd in the catacombs of Rome, or the pastoral scenes of ancient Greece. Here, the animals symbolize prosperity and harmony with nature, a theme that has resonated across cultures and epochs. We see it echoed in Renaissance paintings celebrating pastoral life, and even in modern advertising where livestock evoke notions of wholesome, natural products. The archetype of the shepherd, imbued with connotations of guidance and care, reflects humanity’s deep-seated yearning for protection and order. This image taps into a collective memory, a yearning for a simpler, perhaps idealized past. The cycle continues.