Herdersfamilie in een landschap 1747 - 1812

Editor: This engraving, "Herdersfamilie in een landschap," probably made between 1747 and 1812 by Pellegrino dal Colle, depicts a shepherd family in a landscape. It gives off this old-timey, baroque vibe. The central figure seems so detached. What do you see in this piece, from your perspective? Curator: I see a highly constructed image perpetuating a romanticized, and frankly, false narrative about rural life. This isn't a snapshot of reality but an ideal, likely catering to an elite urban audience longing for a simpler time. Note the carefully arranged figures, the implied leisure, even the cleanliness – this belies the harsh realities of 18th-century agrarian existence. Where is the toil? The poverty? The disease? It's absent, sanitized. What do you think this absence says about the intended audience and the social function of this image? Editor: So, it's less about showing life as it *is* and more about telling a specific story, for a certain audience, perhaps about their values and what they wished for? I hadn't really thought about who *wasn't* in the picture. Curator: Precisely. We have to question the power dynamics inherent in representations like these. Who gets to tell the story, and whose voices are silenced? Consider the composition – who is centered? Who is relegated to the periphery? This isn’t just about art; it’s about social hierarchies and the perpetuation of dominant ideologies. What’s your feeling now about that central figure? Editor: Thinking about it, her ornate clothes and pristine appearance now stand out to me, really reinforcing the artificiality. It feels much more staged than at first glance. Thank you for providing an interesting lens for looking at this piece! Curator: And thank you for engaging with the work critically. These types of engravings can tell us much more about the era, when we look for what is *not* visible as well as what is.