Wintergezicht met boerderij met twee varkens 1875

This etching titled, *Wintergezicht met boerderij met twee varkens,* was created by Theodoor Hannon. Hannon was a Belgian artist who lived through a period of significant social and economic change. This piece reflects the stark realities of rural life at the turn of the century. The farm is blanketed with snow, a testament to the harsh conditions endured by those who worked the land. The presence of the two pigs in the title, though unseen in the image, hints at the economic underpinnings of this existence; their lives, like those of the farmers, were tied to the cycles of nature and the demands of survival. Hannon's choice to depict this scene in monochrome further underscores the bleakness of winter and the isolation of rural communities. It makes me think about what stories are held within this home. Hannon's work invites us to consider the often-overlooked narratives of the working class and their relationship to the land, while prompting us to reflect on the human capacity to endure in the face of adversity.