Drie herderinnen met schapen 1763 - 1764

Francesco Londonio created this print, *Three Shepherdesses with Sheep*, in the 18th century using etching. Londonio lived in a time when the aristocracy often idealized rural life. Here, we see three shepherdesses with their flock in a serene landscape. One woman cradles a lamb, another holds a staff, and a third sits quietly in the background. These women are not simply tending sheep; they are embodying a romantic vision of simplicity and virtue, a narrative crafted by and for the upper classes. Londonio’s work reflects the complex interplay between the realities of rural labor and the fantasies of the wealthy. The shepherdesses are rendered with a delicate touch, their expressions gentle and their clothing neat, a far cry from the hardships faced by actual rural workers. What does it mean to create beauty from someone else’s labor and sometimes suffering? Ultimately, *Three Shepherdesses with Sheep* invites us to reflect on how we represent each other, and the stories we choose to tell about ourselves and those around us.