Fantasies c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Fantasies" by August Aristide Fernand Constantin, and it looks like an etching or engraving. It feels like a snapshot of leisure, but also a bit staged. What do you see happening in the context of its time? Curator: It’s interesting you say “staged.” Consider the rise of the bourgeoisie in the 19th century. Images like this, depicting leisurely activities in nature, were increasingly consumed by this class. It reflected aspirations of upward mobility and a connection to an idealized pastoral life. Editor: So, the art serves as a visual marker for a changing social structure? Curator: Precisely. It suggests a yearning for a specific kind of lifestyle and the public display of this aspiration through art collecting. Who is included in this image, and who is excluded? These are important questions when examining these works. Editor: I never thought about leisure being political. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Art reveals as much about its patrons and viewers as it does about its subjects.