Cartouche met agrarische objecten 1731 - 1775

Johann Georg Hertel created this cartouche with agricultural objects, using etching, in the 18th century. The ornamental frame is filled with pastoral imagery and seems like a celebration of rural life. But, can we consider this representation of labor without acknowledging the historical context of the time? The 18th century saw the rise of Enlightenment ideals, but also the continuation of stark social inequalities. In this image, agricultural tools and produce are aestheticized, almost divorced from the reality of the labor involved in food production. The cartouche, meant to frame and highlight, could also be seen as obscuring the lives of the workers. Ultimately, this image offers a glimpse into the complex relationship between labor, representation, and social class during the 1700s, and invites us to reflect on whose stories are told and whose are left out.