Schaapskooi 1781 - 1787

Cornelis Brouwer created this delicate drawing titled ‘Schaapskooi’ around the late 18th century. In it, sheep congregate near a humble barn, set against a backdrop of trees. The sheep, seemingly simple creatures, carry a powerful symbolic weight. Throughout history, the sheep has appeared as a symbol of innocence, purity, and sacrifice, most notably in religious contexts like Christianity, where it represents the flock of God. But look closer. This iconography can be traced back even further. Think of ancient pastoral traditions, where the sheep was a symbol of fertility and abundance. It is in the collective memory, a visual language that continues to speak to us across time. Observe how these symbols resurface, evolving and taking on new meanings in various historical contexts.