Liggend schaap en ram 1809 - 1810

Anthony Oberman made this etching of a lying sheep and ram sometime in the early 19th century. The image presents a bucolic scene, with the animals rendered in fine detail, and their wool appearing almost tactile. But what might this image have meant to its original audience in the Netherlands? During this period, the Dutch economy was undergoing significant shifts, with agriculture still playing a vital role. The detailed depiction of these animals speaks to their economic importance as a source of wool and meat. Beyond economics, such images often served to evoke an idealized vision of rural life. To fully understand this work, we might consider the artist's biography, looking at how the art market in the Netherlands may have shaped his choice of subject. We must also consider how these images were used and circulated, to get at the meaning of art as something shaped by specific social and institutional contexts.