Herdersjongen met een bok spelend 1641 - 1685

Johann Heinrich Roos created this drawing, Herdersjongen met een bok spelend, with pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, over black chalk. Roos here used traditional art materials to depict a pastoral scene, a moment of leisure far removed from the realities of labor. Roos’s skillful use of ink wash brings a painterly quality to the drawing. See how the varying densities create depth and texture, from the soft wool of the sheep to the energetic leap of the goat. The lines created through the pen-and-ink technique are precise, which captures the details of the figures and foliage. Roos was celebrated in his time for his animal depictions. While seemingly a simple scene, drawings like these were luxury goods. His artistic skill elevated these subjects, fitting into the aesthetic preferences of aristocratic patrons, in an era where art was deeply tied to social status and wealth. It’s a reminder that even seemingly simple images can carry complex social meanings.