Man vanaf een steen op rug van een ezel stappend bij ruïnes 1641 - 1685

This is an etching by Johann Heinrich Roos, made sometime in the 17th century. Observe how the composition is structured around a central diagonal line, leading our eye from the lower-left corner, where a figure mounts a donkey, towards the ruins in the background. Roos masterfully employs line and shadow to create depth and texture. The etching technique captures the rough texture of the stone and the soft wool of the sheep. A sense of movement is created through the hurried steps of the animals. But what are we to make of this humble pastoral scene? Perhaps Roos is reflecting on the transience of human achievement through the visual contrast of the crumbling architecture with the vitality of nature. Or maybe it's a symbolic meditation on man's relationship with the natural world. Whatever your interpretation, Roos presents a view that lingers in the imagination long after we've turned away.