Bosgezicht met rustende herders bij een watervalletje 1783

Hendrik Meijer, a Dutch artist, created this landscape scene with resting shepherds sometime in the late 18th century. This black and white drawing gives us a glimpse into the idealized visions of rural life that were in vogue at the time. Consider how the cultural elite often romanticized the simplicity of pastoral existence, far removed from the realities faced by working-class individuals. Note how Meijer positions his figures within this landscape: shepherds, a woman with a parasol, all seemingly at peace with their surroundings. This is a constructed vision of harmony, one that obscures the socio-economic disparities of the time. The drawing also prompts reflection on the role of nature in art and society. Is this a celebration of the untouched wilderness, or a subtle assertion of human control over the natural world? As you consider this piece, reflect on what it says about our own desires to connect with, or perhaps escape into, the natural world.