The artwork titled “The Good Shepherd” was created by Henry Ossawa Tanner in 1903. This painting is an exquisite example of the Impressionism movement and falls within the genre of religious painting. The piece resides in the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University, located in New Brunswick, NJ, US.
The artwork depicts a serene and spiritual scene bathed in the gentle light of dusk or dawn, characterized by Tanner’s masterful use of light and shadow. The central figure, who embodies the role of the shepherd, appears cloaked and surrounded by a pastoral landscape dominated by a cluster of silhouetted trees. The soft, almost ethereal quality of the scene is enhanced by aglow sky that transitions from lighter to darker hues, hinting at the symbolic presence of the divine. The blending of colors and the impressionistic brushwork evoke a sense of calm and reverence that is both tranquil and profoundly moving. The overall composition leads the viewer’s eye toward the shepherd, inviting them to contemplate the symbolic meaning of guidance and protection inherent in the scene.
