Nine sheep 

Curator: Right in front of us, we have Nicolaes Berchem’s "Nine Sheep", a drawing housed here at the Städel Museum. It’s crafted with chalk and graphite on paper. Editor: My immediate impression is of gentle observation. There’s a raw, unassuming quality, almost like flipping through a sketchbook of animal studies. The grayscale and sketch-like quality invite me into a peaceful, bucolic space. Curator: Berchem, who worked during the Baroque period, often included animals in his pastoral scenes. Sheep in particular often carried symbolic weight within Christianity, referencing innocence, gentleness and of course, the concept of the flock. Editor: Considering the socio-economic landscape of the Dutch Golden Age, could this work also speak to a celebration of pastoral simplicity, amidst growing urban wealth and expansion driven by the livestock market? Perhaps the image idealizes a slower pace and emphasizes agrarian life. Curator: That's definitely plausible. But I also see a connection with older iconographic traditions, for instance in the numerous depictions of the Lamb of God, in which this humble creature attains truly mythic and divine stature. There's a layering of meanings occurring here. Editor: Indeed, and beyond religious undertones, these studies might tap into contemporary philosophical discourse around the dignity of labor and human-animal bonds. By offering meticulous details in the fleece and posture, Berchem invites consideration of the animals’ intrinsic worth beyond its utilitarian function. Curator: It's compelling to ponder how we, as viewers across centuries, continuously engage with these representations. Our readings shift as cultural, spiritual and political contexts evolve. The humble sheep becomes an intersection where human perception, symbolism, and social meaning intertwine. Editor: Ultimately, viewing Berchem's work through an activist lens urges us to examine these connections of animal, labor, and environment within a deeper social consciousness. This seemingly straightforward depiction provides ample food for critical thought and inquiry. Curator: Yes, engaging with these images makes one realize the potential within artworks to resonate with cultural memory while speaking to contemporary concerns.