Herders, kinderen en hond 1829 - 1839

Ary Scheffer made this print called ‘Herders, kinderen en hond’ – or, ‘Shepherds, children and dog’ – sometime in the first half of the nineteenth century. The artist uses etching to create a scene that evokes the natural simplicity of rural life. The image presents an old man standing next to a boulder, holding a walking stick. He is accompanied by two children and a dog. The setting appears to be a field, with a humble building in the background, smoke coming from its chimney. Scheffer created this image during a period of growing industrialization and urbanization in Europe. It is possible that the artist intended to evoke a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time. The Rijksmuseum archive contains extensive information about Scheffer's life and work. By accessing such information, one can place the artwork in its proper context. Art such as this is not just an aesthetic object, but a reflection of the society that produced it.