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Paulus Potter

The Shepherd

1644
Etching on ivory laid paper
18.1 × 26.8 cm (7.1 × 10.6 in)

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In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Early in his career, Paulus Potter was strongly influenced by the etchings of Gerrit Claesz. Bleker (1625–1665), which featured pastoral scenes of rustic shepherds and domestic animals. Potter favored works of this nature himself, producing both prints and drawings. Here he examined the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep, showing the farmer calming his herd by playing a flute. The beasts, in return, remain near their caretaker, despite the vast countryside in which they can roam. The sheep sit contentedly in the shade while a farmer plows the land in the distance, allowing Potter to convey the intimate connection of man and animal to the land.

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More by Paulus Potter

Orpheus and the AnimalsOrpheus and the AnimalsCows in a Meadow near a FarmCows in a Meadow near a FarmTwee paarden in de wei bij een hekTwee paarden in de wei bij een hekThe BullThe BullA herdsman's hutA herdsman's hutBear HuntBear HuntTwo Cows and a Young Bull beside a Fence in a MeadowTwo Cows and a Young Bull beside a Fence in a MeadowFour Young Bulls in a MeadowFour Young Bulls in a Meadow

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