Artwork
The Piping Shepherd

The Piping Shepherd is a print by the Baroque artist Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem. It dates from 1652 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1925.71
- Credit line
- Gift of Ralph King
About this work
Overview
The Piping Shepherd is a print depicting a serene rural scene.
Subject & Meaning
A shepherd plays a tenor flute, attempting to entice a nearby shepherdess with his music, conveying a sense of gentle courtship.
Technique & Style
The print employs chiaroscuro, using contrasts of light and dark to create depth and atmosphere in the peaceful landscape.
Context
The work reflects a bucolic theme, idealizing rural life and emphasizing the beauty of a tranquil natural setting.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
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…



















