Herderin en jonge man 1627 - 1678

This etching, "Herderin en jonge man," was made by Jan Thomas in the 17th century. At first glance, we see a shepherdess holding a staff and a young man reaching for her hands. But these are not merely figures in a pastoral landscape. The shepherdess, with her hat adorned with feathers and her commanding presence, evokes a sense of earthly power and fertility. This echoes the ancient archetype of the Great Mother, a symbol that appears in countless cultures, from the goddesses of antiquity to the Renaissance Venus. Consider, for instance, how the open gesture of her hands mirrors the poses of figures in classical depictions of nymphs and deities, symbolizing abundance and offering. Yet, here, there’s a tension, a psychological drama. The youth's eager gesture of grasping her hands juxtaposes with the subtle reservation in her gaze, creating an emotional charge, that pulls us into the subconscious play of desire and power. Thus, the image becomes a potent vessel, carrying within it the echo of past ages, and the timeless dance of human relationships.