Hyrde og hyrdinde og tre liggende køer 1624 - 1674

Jan van Ossenbeeck created "Hyrde og hyrdinde og tre liggende køer," or "Herdsman and Shepherdess with Three Lying Cows," using etching techniques. Notice how the composition is anchored by the mass of the resting cows in the foreground, their forms rendered with a network of fine lines that suggest volume and texture. Ossenbeeck employs a visual language where line is paramount. Look closely at how he uses hatching and cross-hatching to model form and create tonal variations. This technique not only defines the shapes of the figures and landscape but also evokes a sense of atmosphere and light. The figures of the herdsman and shepherdess are smaller and are placed further back, creating depth. The artist manipulates the scale and placement of elements to structure our gaze. The cows, the primary subject, are given prominence through their size and positioning, inviting us to contemplate the pastoral scene, its relationship to nature and the life of the shepherd. The detailed rendering and careful arrangement invites us to consider the interplay between the artist's technique, the subject matter, and the cultural values associated with rural life.