Herd of Sheep 1864

Charles Jacque created this print, Herd of Sheep, using etching, a technique that allows for the creation of fine, detailed lines. Jacque, a 19th-century French artist, was part of a broader artistic movement that found beauty and worth in rural life. In this small but evocative scene, we see a shepherd resting under a tree, his flock grazing peacefully around him. The image speaks to a slower, more agrarian way of life that was increasingly romanticized as industrialization spread. But we might also consider the social and economic realities of shepherding. Often, it was a life of solitude and hardship, particularly for those who did not own land or livestock. The shepherd's quiet repose may hint at both the pleasures and the burdens of this existence. The artist does not shy away from showing the animals in detail, which emphasizes a connection to the natural world.