Herder met schapen c. 1611 - 1732

This small print presents a shepherd with his sheep, crafted by Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert. Here, the shepherd, an archetypal figure, evokes images of pastoral tranquility and divine guidance, traceable from ancient Greek bucolic poems to Christian allegories of Christ as the Good Shepherd. Consider the ram, standing proudly among the flock. In antiquity, the ram was a symbol of virility and leadership, often linked to gods such as Zeus-Ammon. Yet, its resonance extends far beyond, recurring in sacrificial rites, such as the story of Abraham. This echoes through time, a constant reshaping of meaning, from pagan symbolism to biblical narrative. The image engages viewers, touching deep-seated emotions of safety and care, while the enduring motifs invite us to reflect on the cyclical nature of symbols. They are continually reborn through cultural memory.