The Goatherd on the Hill 1621 - 1675

Allart van Everdingen made this etching, "The Goatherd on the Hill," in the Dutch Republic, sometime in the mid-17th century. It depicts a goatherd overseeing his flock in a rugged, idealized landscape. But how might we understand this image in its historical context? Well, the Dutch Golden Age was a period of unprecedented economic growth and social change. As Dutch cities expanded, so did the art market. Artists like van Everdingen found a ready audience for landscape prints, which allowed city dwellers to connect with an idealized vision of rural life. Consider the goatherd himself. In the 17th century, shepherding was seen as an idyllic existence, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Van Everdingen's print offers a romanticized view of this lifestyle, one that emphasizes the simple pleasures of nature. To understand the full meaning of this artwork, we can look at other images and texts from the period, such as pastoral poetry and travel writing. By doing so, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural values that shaped the art of the Dutch Golden Age.