Twee landschappen met vee 1656 - 1728

This print, "Two Landscapes with Cattle," was created by an anonymous artist, rendered in etching. The two scenes depict a pastoral vision of the European countryside, with cattle at rest and graze. Yet, the presence of a human figure leaning against a tree in the upper panel complicates this idyllic view. Is this figure a shepherd, or someone else who's watching over the animals? Are they an overseer? The ambiguity invites us to consider the social dynamics inherent in agrarian life, the relationship between labor, land, and capital. The piece raises questions about the nature of work, and the human imprint on the landscape. We are left to contemplate the many unseen hands that shaped the world.