En hyrdedreng. Stående nøgen dreng med en stav over nakken og en hund ved sin side 1835

This bronze sculpture, created by H.W. Bissen, presents a shepherd boy with a dog, immortalized in solid metal. Bronze casting is an ancient process, involving the creation of a mold, often through the lost-wax technique. Molten bronze is poured in, cooled, and the mold is removed to reveal the final form. The material itself – bronze – lends the artwork a sense of permanence and value. Its smooth, dark surface reflects light, accentuating the boy's idealized anatomy and the dog’s attentive posture. Bronze is also associated with classical sculpture, a visual language that Bissen purposefully invokes. The choice of bronze and the skilled casting process elevate the image of a simple shepherd boy, associating it with the timeless themes of pastoral life, human animal companionship and classical ideals. It reminds us that art's meaning is inextricably linked to the materials and the making processes that bring it into being.