Een herderin, bekend als 'De schone herderin' 1820 - 1833

Jean Augustin Daiwaille created this print of a shepherdess, or ‘De Schone Herderin,’ with etching and aquatint. The image conjures up a romanticized vision of rural life, very typical of the Dutch art world at the time. But this aesthetic wasn't just about pretty pictures. It reflected deeper social and cultural values. During the 18th and 19th centuries, as cities grew and industrialization changed the landscape, many people looked back to the countryside with nostalgia. Artists and writers created idealized images of shepherds and shepherdesses, living simple, virtuous lives in harmony with nature. This print, with its elegant, refined shepherdess, taps into that sentiment. To truly understand a piece like this, we need to look into the popular culture, literature, and even political debates of the time. These sources help us understand how art reflected and shaped the values of its society.