Gezicht op een weiland met schapen before 1898

This photogravure of a pasture with sheep is by William Smedley-Aston. Smedley-Aston, who was active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, lived during a period of significant change in England, as urbanization and industrialization began to change the landscape. Looking at this peaceful scene, one can't help but notice the intentional, almost pastoral quality. There's a certain kind of romanticism at play here, an attempt to capture an idyllic scene of the English countryside, perhaps as a means of preserving a traditional vision of rural life. Smedley-Aston’s work can be understood as participating in a broader cultural discourse around national identity, which saw the English landscape as a source of pride, identity, and solace during a period of rapid change. In its own way, it’s both a celebration of the natural world, and a subtle commentary on the way of life that was quickly disappearing.