Kudde schapen in een rivier 1646 - 1663

Jacob Esselens created this etching of sheep in a river in the 17th century, a period when the Dutch Republic was a major economic power. Esselens specialized in landscapes, which became a distinct genre during the Dutch Golden Age. His images often romanticized the Dutch countryside as pristine and pastoral. Here, we see sheep wading in the water, guided by a lone figure. It's easy to get lost in the details: the pattern of the leaves, the light on the water. But, it's important to remember that this image does not represent the totality of Dutch experience. The colonial wealth that funded this work was built upon the backs of enslaved people. Esselens invites us into a serene, contemplative world, but this tranquility belies the economic engine of the Dutch Golden Age. The print serves as a potent reminder of whose stories get told, and whose get left out.