Hoofdletter T met beeltenis van een herder

This initial, "Hoofdletter T met beeltenis van een herder", was created by Jacob Folkema in the 18th century. The letter T is playfully inhabited by pastoral imagery, reflecting the period's fascination with the idealized countryside. But let’s think more deeply about this pastoral fantasy. Who is allowed into this vision of leisure and who is excluded? The shepherd, a recurring figure, is often romanticized, yet his life was one of labor and was almost certainly not of his own choosing. Consider the economic and social structures that underpin this seemingly innocent image. Does it challenge or uphold the status quo? How might the realities of rural life complicate the idyllic scene Folkema presents? Does this little T invite you in, or keep you at bay?