1652
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Resting Herd is a 1652 ink by Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a group of goats and sheep scattered across a grassy field. Some animals stand, others lie down, and a few are mid-motion, like they’re running or climbing. Trees with bare branches loom in the background, and the ground has patches of dirt and small plants. The artist used fine lines to show fur texture and movement, making the animals look lively despite the simple scene. This style fits the Baroque period, where artists often focused on energy and detail. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this one create prints with acid and metal plates.
Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem (1 October 1620 – 18 February 1683) was a highly esteemed and prolific Dutch Golden Age painter of pastoral landscapes, populated with mythological or biblical figures, but also of a number of allegories and genre pieces.
See the richer artist page
