Shepherd with Goats (Les chèvres)

Shepherd with Goats (Les chèvres) by Claude Lorrain is a significant example of French printmaking from the period 1601 to 1650. Executed between 1630 and 1633, this work is technically complex, created as an etching printed from two separate plates. These resulting prints were carefully attached to form the final, cohesive composition on laid paper, a demanding process for the era.

Lorrain, who spent the majority of his career in Italy, was instrumental in developing the classical landscape tradition, often incorporating rustic figures or mythological elements into idealized settings. This particular piece depicts a shepherd guiding a small flock of goats through a tranquil, shadowed landscape, typical of the Roman campagna that inspired the artist. Unlike some of his grander, highly populated views, the focus here remains intimate, emphasizing the quality of light and atmosphere achieved through the exacting etching process. The masterful use of line and shadow captures the texture of the trees and the soft illumination of the scene, translating his famed atmospheric technique into the realm of prints.

While Lorrain is most known for his monumental paintings, his output of etchings and drawings was substantial, offering valuable insights into his working methods and compositional experiments. This attached two-sheet composition, sometimes referred to by its French title, demonstrates the technical ambition of 17th-century printmakers. The work is currently housed in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a key reference for understanding European landscape art. As a historical work now frequently available to scholars and the general public, images of this piece are often accessible through resources compiling works designated as public domain.