Schapen 1732 - 1776

Editor: We're looking at "Schapen," which translates to "Sheep" from the period 1732-1776, an engraving by Gilles Demarteau. The print is quite simple, and has a rustic quality, but also possesses a kind of serene stillness. What initially catches your eye? Curator: Funny you should mention stillness. I find that I immediately notice how cleverly Demarteau's captured that sense of pastoral peace. It is very much of the moment – that almost absurdly idyllic view of nature embraced by the Rococo period, just before revolutionary tumult. Look how lightly he suggests the landscape around them, everything a wispy breath! Are they even really grazing, or just posing? Editor: Posing! I see what you mean! Almost like a carefully arranged tableau… Do you think this image says anything specific about the time period, then? Beyond just being "pretty"? Curator: Absolutely. This almost saccharine view of the rural hides a lot, you know. Engravings like these were incredibly popular among the upper classes. It wasn't just about admiring sheep; it was about projecting an image of harmony and plenty onto the countryside, a kind of aristocratic fantasy! A simplified and romanticized view of rural life that often didn't reflect reality. And Demarteau, as a skilled engraver, understood his market. Editor: So, it's like a carefully crafted form of propaganda almost? Disguised as something harmless and bucolic? Curator: Propaganda might be too strong a word, but certainly a curated narrative. Art often reflects not just what is, but what people want to believe *is*. It certainly makes you wonder about our own contemporary "picturesque" images and the messages *they* conceal. Editor: This has really reshaped how I see the image. Thanks for shining a light on that context! Curator: My pleasure! It’s a wonderful reminder that even the simplest of scenes can hold hidden depths.