Staande herdersjongen, zijn arm rustend op een stok c. 1640 - 1660

Curator: Here we have a drawing titled "Standing Shepherd Boy, His Arm Resting on a Stick" by Karel du Jardin, estimated to be from around 1640 to 1660. It's currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: He looks utterly bored, doesn't he? Beautifully rendered boredom, but boredom nonetheless. The light catching the soft fur of his jacket makes you want to reach out and touch it. There's something melancholic about him. Curator: Du Jardin was a master of genre scenes, often depicting everyday life with an idealized lens. This sketch likely served as a study for a larger painting, capturing the pose and details of a shepherd. The realism is quite striking. Editor: Idealized? Maybe. There’s also a weight to him. The way he leans, like his whole life's responsibility rests on that simple stick. That simple sketch shows a real person who spends his time herding sheep! I can feel his resignation in my bones. I bet du Jardin didn't anticipate that level of intimacy, but that what art really gives us! Curator: It’s also fascinating to consider how images like these reinforced certain romanticized notions of pastoral life during that period. Landscapes and idealized rural figures were increasingly popular among urban audiences. Du Jardin certainly played a part in constructing that vision. Editor: Yes, you're right—artists shape public understanding of life, especially rural life, because most patrons were not from these rural areas. Still, art finds its way. I'm more caught by his simple grace—an artist can elevate an ordinary moment in history! He becomes a poignant representation of youthful fatigue, almost timeless, which I really like! Curator: It's a testament to du Jardin's skill that, centuries later, it still elicits such strong emotions! Thank you for providing that personal connection to this wonderful sketch. Editor: My pleasure! There is something eternally fascinating about the everyday—I like to think, we get it when we have that eureka-moment in front of the art.