Boeren spelen jeu de boules 1736

This print, Boeren spelen jeu de boules, was made by Jacques Philippe Le Bas, in France, during the 1700s. Through fine lines, Le Bas depicts a group of peasants playing the game of boules. Prints such as this offer us a glimpse into the everyday life of 18th-century France. The scene is set in a humble village, with simple houses and villagers dressed in modest clothing. This image presents a romanticized view of peasant life, a popular theme in French art of this period. It reflects the social and cultural interests of the time, particularly the fascination with rural life and leisure among the upper classes. Prints like this circulated widely and offer insight into the distribution of images through institutional structures. By studying such prints alongside other historical documents, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural values that shaped the world in which they were made.