The Departure of the Flock 1880

"The Departure of the Flock," an etching by Félix Brissot de Warville, invites us into the rural realities of 19th-century France. Brissot de Warville, born into a period of significant social change, captures a shepherd guiding his flock, their figures rendered with remarkable intimacy. This work arrives in a period where the social and economic hierarchy was deeply entrenched. Rural life, often idealized, was also fraught with hardship for the working class. The shepherd, a common figure in art, here seems to embody a quiet, steadfast connection to the land. Brissot de Warville portrays a narrative that touches on themes of labor, class, and the human-animal bond. It reflects not only the realities of rural existence but also invites viewers to contemplate their relationship with the natural world.