Landschap met rivier waarin koeien waden before 1909

V.C. Andrigo made this etching, "Landscape with river in which cows are wading," sometime in the 19th or 20th century. Here we see a rural scene in which cows wade through a river near a farmhouse. This idealized vision of the countryside evokes a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time. In a rapidly industrializing Europe, images like this one served as a reminder of the perceived virtues of rural life, with its emphasis on hard work, community, and connection to nature. The image participates in a long tradition of landscape painting, a genre that became increasingly popular as artists sought to capture the beauty and sublimity of the natural world. Art historians consult sources like exhibition reviews and artist biographies to better understand the cultural meanings of landscape imagery in this period. These resources help us understand the social conditions that shape artistic production.