Landscape with Sheep 1695

Jan van der Meer the Younger painted this Landscape with Sheep, now at the SMK, using oil on canvas. The artwork is built on the interplay between light and shadow. Notice how the artist uses a high horizon line, compressing the landscape and pushing the sheep towards the foreground. This creates a sense of intimacy and brings the viewer closer to the bucolic scene. The composition guides our eyes from the luminous sky to the dark, dense foliage, highlighting the contrast between nature's openness and its hidden depths. This juxtaposition can be interpreted through a structuralist lens, where the binary opposition of light and shadow reveals deeper meanings about the visible and the concealed. The rough texture of the paint application adds another layer, emphasizing the materiality of the artwork itself. Consider how the artist's formal choices evoke a world where harmony is not just seen but also felt. The interplay of elements creates an experience that invites ongoing contemplation.