Herders met vee bij een rivier 1650s

Karel du Jardin created this drawing, “Herders met vee bij een rivier”, with pen in brown ink and brush in grey wash. It shows herders with their animals wading through a river in a classical landscape. Du Jardin was a Dutch painter working in the mid-17th century, a period when the Netherlands experienced significant economic growth and social change. At this time, Dutch artists often depicted everyday life and landscapes, reflecting the values and interests of the growing merchant class. This drawing, with its serene depiction of rural life, speaks to a nostalgia for the countryside, perhaps in contrast to the bustling urban centers. The Rijksmuseum, where this drawing is housed, plays a crucial role in preserving and presenting Dutch cultural heritage. To understand this work more fully, one could explore Dutch social history, agricultural practices, and the art market of the 17th century, all of which provide a deeper understanding of the drawing’s significance.