Farms, cattle with herdsmen and milkmaids in the foreground
Original title: Farms, cattle with herdsmen and milkmaids in the foreground from Multifariarum casularum ruriumque lineamenta curiose ad vivum expressa
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike the other sheets in the series, this etching by Johannes van Doetecum I (1559–61) puts livestock and their keepers front and center: cows, herdsmen and milkmaids fill the foreground. It belongs to the set of rural views and is present here in the fourth of five states.
Description
Cows lie and stand among several herdsmen and milkmaids in the foreground. Behind them rise thatched houses, surrounded by trees and bushes. Clouds drift across the sky, giving the image its natural character. The whole remains black and white; lines and hatching shape the bodies and surfaces.
Context
The Dutchman Johannes van Doetecum I often worked with his brother Lucas. The series 'Multifariarum casularum ruriumque lineamenta' was published in Antwerp and gathers rural farmsteads and scenes. Prints of this kind were widely popular in the sixteenth century, whether as models for other artists or as items for collectors.
Impact
The image feels peaceful and quiet, largely because of the balanced distribution of people and animals. Cleanly drawn lines and a harmonious layout make country life appear credible.
Technique
The etching was printed on paper, using the line etching typical of the period. Hatching and stippling of varying density create a sense of volume. The fourth state likely includes reworkings that sharpened details.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)