Man Herding Cows and Sheep
1640/83
Medium
Pen and brown ink with brush and gray wash, over graphite, on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
11 × 9.1 cm (4 3/8 × 3 5/8 in.)
Classification
ink or chalk wash
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
83650
Art Historical Context
In the tranquil pastoral scene of *Man Herding Cows and*, Dutch Golden Age artist Nicolaes Berchem captures the serene beauty of rural life. Created between 1640 and 1683, this intimate drawing exemplifies Berchem's mastery of Italianate landscapes, influenced by his travels to Italy where he absorbed the warm light and expansive vistas of the Roman countryside. A specialist in animal studies and idyllic Arcadian scenes, Berchem his works with a poetic harmony between humans, livestock, and nature, reflecting the 17th-century Dutch fascination with the countryside amid urban prosperity. Execu...