Artwork
An Elderly Shepherd Leading the Flock
An Elderly Shepherd Leading the Flock is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Gaetano Zompini. It dates from 1758 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
An Elderly Shepherd Leading the Flock is an etching by Gaetano Zompini, created in 1758. The work is executed in sanguine on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a rustic scene: a weary shepherd in simple attire guides a small flock of goats and sheep through a rugged, hilly landscape. A figure on a rocky outcropping observes the scene with a dog.
Technique & Style
The artist employed a technique allowing ink to remain on the plate, resulting in rough, expressive lines. The scratchy, uneven quality of the etching gives it a spontaneous, sketch-like appearance, suggesting a rapid study rather than a refined work.
Context
This print exemplifies the etching process, where artists create images by incising lines into a plate, which are then inked and printed.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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