Herd of Sheep Near the Water
1621
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1621
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Herd of Sheep Near the Water is a 1621 ink by Willem Buytewech, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a quiet landscape with a herd of sheep grazing near a body of water. Tall, leafless trees stand in the background, their branches twisted and bare. The ground is dotted with small bushes, and the water’s edge is lined with reeds. The artist used fine lines to create texture, making the trees and grass look almost three-dimensional. This is an etching, a printmaking method where the design is scratched into a metal plate. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Buytewech made prints like this.
