Landscape with Animals c. 18th century

Landscape with Animals is an oil on panel painting of unknown date by the artist known only as Monogrammist IL. Landscape paintings of this era weren't just pretty pictures; they reflected a changing society. As cities grew, land became a symbol of wealth and national identity. Here, we see farm animals peacefully coexisting, a vision of rural harmony. But this idealized view often masked the realities of rural life, like the labor of farmers and the displacement of people from their land. The painting invites us to reflect on our relationship with nature, and how ideas of land and ownership have shaped our societies and our identities. It encourages us to think about whose stories are told and whose are left out of these landscapes.