The Shepherd
Paulus Potter · 1644 · Art Institute of Chicago
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From the museum
Early in his career, Paulus Potter was strongly influenced by the etchings of Gerrit Claesz. Bleker (1625–1665), which featured pastoral scenes of rustic shepherds and domestic animals. Potter favored works of this nature himself, producing both prints and drawings. Here he examined the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep, showing the farmer calming his herd by playing a flute. The beasts, in return, remain near their caretaker, despite the vast countryside in which they can roam. The sheep sit contentedly in the shade while a farmer plows the land in the distance, allowing Potter to convey the intimate connection of man and animal to the land.
The museum’s own description, in English. Licence: CC BY 4.0
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Details
- Maker
- Paulus Potter, Dutch, 1625-1654
- Date
- 1644
- Medium
- Etching on ivory laid paper
- Dimensions
- 18.1 × 26.8 cm (7 3/16 × 10 9/16 in.)
- Place of origin
- Holland
- Held by
- Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · Not on view
- Credit line
- Bernard F. Rogers Collection
Image: Art Institute of Chicago, CC0
