Stående ko og liggende geder og får 1644

Nicolaes Berchem created this etching of a standing cow with resting goats and sheep. Berchem lived during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of tremendous wealth for the Netherlands, driven by their dominance in international trade. Berchem specialized in pastoral landscapes, a genre that gained popularity as city dwellers romanticized rural life. These images often served as allegories of harmony and prosperity, reflecting a longing for an idealized past. The artist spent time in Italy, so these pastoral artworks frequently include Mediterranean elements. Consider how the animals in Berchem’s etching—rendered with a delicate touch—might symbolize the bounty and tranquility the Dutch associated with their national identity. While seemingly bucolic, these scenes were carefully constructed to reinforce cultural values and social hierarchies. They are infused with the tastes and desires of the urban elite who formed the art market.