Landschap met boerderij en vijver met eenden 1855 - 1904

Arnoud Schaepkens created this etching, "Landschap met boerderij en vijver met eenden," which translates to "Landscape with farm and pond with ducks," using black ink on paper. Schaepkens was a Dutch artist working in the 19th century, a period marked by significant social and economic changes. With industrialization, artists started romanticizing rural life, representing it as an escape from the rapid urbanization. The landscape becomes a mirror reflecting society’s longing for simpler times. Looking at the image, you might notice the absence of human figures; the farm and pond, though bucolic, feel strangely deserted. The ducks float serenely, oblivious to the changing world around them. Schaepkens invites you to reflect on the evolving relationship between humanity and nature, and to perhaps mourn the loss of a way of life. The scene is quiet, but it speaks volumes about a society in transition.