The Grand Park at Moutons 1860

Curator: This is Charles François Daubigny's "The Grand Park at Moutons," a work that offers such a compelling view into rural life. Editor: It's a peaceful scene; the texture almost makes me feel the wool of the flock. Curator: The means by which the texture is accomplished is of particular interest, though. It's all about the etching technique, the labor of the mark-making to produce this impression. Editor: It certainly speaks to the history of pastoral representation, reflecting the politics of land and labor, but also the cultural idealization of rural life. Curator: Exactly, we see here the intersection of the means of production, the consumption of imagery, and the sociopolitical narratives they reinforce. Editor: Thinking about it that way gives me a new appreciation. Curator: Yes, the material and the message are inextricable.