Herder zittend onder een boom 1639

Pieter Cornelisz. Verbeeck etched this pastoral scene, a shepherd seated beneath a tree, a timeless tableau of man in harmony with nature. The shepherd himself, with his relaxed pose and feathered cap, evokes the classical ideal of Arcadia, a symbol of simple, virtuous living. Note the musical instrument by his side; this element links him to Apollo and the muses. The symbol of the shepherd resonates through the ages, a figure that appears in biblical stories and Renaissance paintings alike. Recall the Good Shepherd of Christian iconography, a motif drawn from classical antiquity and reimagined with profound spiritual significance. This image is a powerful force, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Thus, the shepherd's symbol has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in vastly different historical contexts.