Burgruine an einem Fluß, im Vordergrund eine Hirtin auf einem Esel bei Kühen und Ziegen, ein beladener Esel wird von einem Hirte geprügelt und schlägt aus 

Jan Frans Soolmaker made this river landscape showing a herding scene with pen, brown ink, watercolor, and black chalk. The drawing’s appearance is influenced by its material delicacy and application; the transparent watercolor washes have a fineness that allows for the figures to be set against the landscape. Soolmaker engages with well-established traditions of drawing, using pen and ink to create fine lines and contours, whilst applying a watercolor wash to add depth and tone. These techniques were part of the broader art culture of the time, blending fine art and craft, and drawing was an essential skill. However, beyond the technical skill, one can consider the drawing’s content; Soolmaker portrays rural life and working people with elements of labor and social class. The relationship between humans and animals is central here, from the herding and farming that sustains society, to the contrast between the lady riding on a donkey and the beater's donkey, and highlighting social and labor issues. Therefore, the work invites us to challenge traditional notions of fine art by emphasizing the importance of materials, artistic techniques, and context in understanding the full meaning of the work.