De getrouwe herder
c. 1637 - c. 1666
Medium
etching
Dimensions
284; 230
About this artwork
height 230 mm x width 284 mm
Art Historical Context
"De getrouwe herder," or "The Faithful Shepherd," is an etching by Hans Bol measuring 230 by 284 millimeters. Created between roughly 1637 and 1666, the work presents a pastoral subject that highlights themes of loyalty and rural life, common in Northern European imagery of the period. The modest scale suggests it was intended for intimate viewing, perhaps as part of a print series or collector’s album. Etching was a favored medium in the seventeenth century because the technique allowed fine lines and tonal variation through the controlled use of acid on a metal plate. This process enabled a...
About the Artist
Hans Bol · 1534–1593
Hans Bol (1534–1593) was a Netherlandish painter, draftsman, and miniaturist known for his exquisite landscape compositions and detailed miniature paintings. Born in Mechelen (Malines) in the Spanish Netherlands, he trained there and became a member of the Guild of Saint Luke. His early career was disrupted by the religious upheavals of the Dutch Revolt; the sack of Mechelen in 1572 forced him to ...