De schaapherder

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 240

Art Historical Context

**De Schaapherder (The Shepherd)** by Paulus Potter (1644) invites us into the serene world of the Dutch Golden Age, a period when artists celebrated the everyday beauty of rural life. just 21 years old, Potter, a prodigy from Enkhuizen, crafted this etching as one of his early prints, showcasing his lifelong passion for animals and pastoral scenes. His realistic depictions of sheep and shepherds evoke a timeless Arcadia, reflecting the era's fascination with nature amid Holland's prosperous landscapes and burgeoning interest in the natural world. Rendered in etching—a meticulous intaglio tec...

About the Artist

Paulus Potter · 1625–1654

Paulus Potter (1625–1654) was a Dutch Golden Age painter whose short life — he died at just twenty-eight years of age — belied an artistic achievement of remarkable originality and influence. Born in Enkhuizen in 1625, Potter trained under his father, the painter Pieter Potter, and later in Amsterdam and Delft, where he absorbed the technical standards of the flourishing Dutch painting tradition. ...