Vruchtbaar dal en een stad op een berg 1778 - 1785

"Vruchtbaar dal en een stad op een berg" (Fertile valley and a city on a mountain) was created by Noach van der (II) Meer during the late 18th century. It’s a scene of pastoral contemplation, but it also speaks to the societal structures of its time. The etching depicts a young man, perhaps a shepherd, seated in a landscape with a town perched atop a mountain in the background. During the Enlightenment, there was a growing interest in the individual and their relationship to nature. Yet, this image is also carefully constructed to communicate social ideals. The shepherd, in his simplicity, is contrasted with the town above, a symbol of civilization and power. In a society deeply stratified by class, the artwork subtly reinforces the existing social hierarchy, inviting viewers to appreciate the harmony of a world where each individual knows their place. But I wonder about this young man’s dreams. Does he aspire to something more than what’s in front of him? This image leaves us questioning the boundaries of social mobility and personal aspiration during a time of significant social change.