Landscape with Sheep, from The Small Landscapes c. 1638

Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert created this landscape with sheep as part of a series of prints, using engraving to create a detailed scene. It is a pastoral scene, reflecting a widespread interest in nature and rural life that emerged in the Netherlands during the 17th century. The work offers a glimpse into the social values of the time, specifically an appreciation for the countryside as distinct from the urban environment, which was increasingly associated with commerce and trade. We see a shepherd, his flock and a distant town, all under a dramatic sky. This image is not simply a representation of a physical place; it embodies cultural attitudes toward nature, labor, and the idealized simplicity of rural existence. By studying landscapes like this, in relation to other forms of archival material, such as agricultural records and trade statistics, we can understand how art reflected and shaped the social realities of its time. The museum itself plays a role in shaping our understanding, collecting, preserving, and displaying works that offer insights into our past.