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Boulder with a Shepherd and Goats

Caspar Johann Nepomuk Scheuren

1842

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Boulder with a Shepherd and Goats is a 1842 ink by Caspar Johann Nepomuk Scheuren, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Caspar Johann Nepomuk Scheuren
When & what style?: 1842 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This drawing shows a rocky hillside with a few small buildings tucked into the slopes. In the center, a lone shepherd sits on a boulder, playing a flute while a flock of goats grazes around him. The lines are scratchy and layered, giving the scene a rough, textured look. The artist used a technique called etching to create these deep, detailed marks. This style was perfect for showing the uneven surface of the rocks and the movement of the goats. Look up etching to see how artists like Scheuren made prints with acid and metal plates.

The story of this work

Overview

Boulder with a Shepherd and Goats is an etching created by Caspar Johann Nepomuk Scheuren in 1842.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a serene scene of a shepherd playing a flute on a boulder, surrounded by grazing goats, amidst a rocky hillside with small buildings.

Technique & Style

The etching technique used by Scheuren produces deep, detailed marks, capturing the texture of the rocks and the movement of the goats through scratchy, layered lines.