Zwei Hirten mit zwei Ziegen 

Pietro Palmieri the Elder created this drawing, "Zwei Hirten mit zwei Ziegen," depicting two shepherds with two goats, during a time when the pastoral theme was fashionable, especially among those who wanted to evoke simpler times. Palmieri, working in 18th-century Italy, was part of a cultural moment that romanticized rural life. This drawing isn’t just about shepherds and goats; it reflects a longing for an idealized past, a refuge from the complexities of urban life. There’s a certain class element here, with wealthier patrons appreciating images of the working class from a safe distance. It allows for a vicarious experience of simplicity without engaging with the actual hardships of that lifestyle. What emotions does this scene evoke? The quiet stillness of the goats resting, the shepherds in repose – it’s an invitation to imagine a life detached from the demands of society. But it’s also worth considering who gets to indulge in this fantasy, and whose reality is being aestheticized. The artwork therefore represents a form of societal escapism while potentially romanticizing the realities of the working class.