Herder en herderin met runderen en schapen bij een poel - Jacob van Strij

A detailed pastoral drawing by Jacob van Strij, featuring a shepherd and shepherdess guiding livestock through a pool.

This drawing by Jacob van Strij depicts a pastoral scene, a subject that occupied much of the artist's career. Van Strij, working from Dordrecht, drew heavy inspiration from the seventeenth-century Dutch masters, particularly Aelbert Cuyp. The composition features a shepherd and shepherdess guiding a small herd of cattle, sheep, and a goat through a shallow pool of water. A dog trots in the foreground, adding a sense of movement to the otherwise tranquil setting.

The artist employs a monochromatic palette, using pen and brown ink combined with delicate grey washes to define form and atmosphere. The light source appears to come from the left, casting soft shadows across the animals and the rocky embankment. The background features a gentle rise in the terrain, suggesting a rural Dutch environment. Van Strij demonstrates a precise control of his medium, using varying densities of wash to create depth and texture in the animals' coats and the surrounding foliage.

Van Strij was a central figure in the Dordrecht art scene during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. His work often reflects the traditional Dutch interest in rural life and animal studies. This particular piece shows his ability to balance technical precision with a relaxed, observational quality. The signature in the lower right corner confirms his authorship, consistent with his known works from this period. The drawing provides a clear view into the artistic practices of the time, where the study of nature and livestock remained a primary focus for many painters and draughtsmen.