Cowherd and Milkmaid 1792

George Morland painted 'Cowherd and Milkmaid' in England at the close of the 18th century. Here we see his characteristic combination of picturesque landscape and rustic genre. The scene of agricultural labour is, at first glance, an innocent one, yet it idealises the realities of rural life at a time of great social and economic upheaval. Morland painted this during the early stages of the Industrial Revolution. The rural population was moving to urban centres in search of factory work. Morland's nostalgia speaks to a yearning for a simpler, pre-industrial past and a conservative worldview. To understand the cultural significance of Morland's painting, one must delve into the social history of 18th-century England. By examining sources such as agricultural reports, economic data, and demographic studies, it is possible to understand the complex historical context that shaped Morland's vision of rural England.