Herd of Cows at the Feeding Trough n.d.

Charles Jacque created this etching titled, *Herd of Cows at the Feeding Trough*, during a period of significant social change in France. Jacque, deeply affected by his own experiences as a soldier and his time spent in rural communities, often depicted pastoral scenes, reflecting a nostalgic view of country life amidst growing industrialization. In this small, intimate print, we see a mass of cattle gathered around a trough, their forms rendered with remarkable texture. A herder, with his hat and long stick, sits atop one of the cows. While seemingly simple, the print carries an emotional weight. Is it possible to see Jacque’s vision of rural life as a commentary on social hierarchy? The cows' dependence on the trough mirrors the working class's dependence on the landowners. The herder, almost at one with the cow, blurs the lines of class and labor. Ultimately, *Herd of Cows at the Feeding Trough* encourages us to consider the complex relationship between humans, animals, and the land during a time of profound transformation.