Tamme dieren 1844

This print titled "Tame Animals" by Jan Schuitemaker presents a series of vignettes depicting domestic animals, each accompanied by a short verse. The cow, the sheep, the ox, the pig, the horse, and the donkey. Consider the image of the sheep alongside the shepherd; a motif that stretches back to antiquity. We find it in early Christian art where Christ is portrayed as the Good Shepherd. This symbol is further resonant of sacrifice, vulnerability, and pastoral innocence. Yet, as it migrates through time and cultures, the image of the sheep also takes on new, complex layers of meaning, and emerges as a symbol of meekness. Looking at Schuitemaker's print, it invites us to explore our connections with the natural world and, on a deeper level, to consider the emotional and psychological impact of these recurring images that inhabit our collective consciousness. From ancient religious art to modern-day children's books, the archetypes of the tame animals persist in our psyche.