Schaap bij een boomstam 1652 - 1659

Karel du Jardin created this etching, "Sheep by a Tree Trunk", capturing a scene of pastoral life. The composition centers on a sheep, resting beside a decaying tree trunk, set against a subtly sketched landscape. The etching technique brings a rich texture to the sheep’s wool and the rough bark, achieved through a network of fine, deliberate lines. Du Jardin masterfully uses light and shadow to give form to the scene, notice how the darker lines define the contours, while the lighter areas suggest sunlight. This focus on texture and tone over precise detail invites us to appreciate the material qualities of the world. Du Jardin’s arrangement of elements—the sheep, the tree, the distant hills—suggests a harmonic relationship between the animal and its environment. It underscores the cyclical nature of life and decay. This interplay is a hallmark of Dutch Golden Age art, reflecting broader philosophical interests in naturalism and the structures of the natural world.