Herders en hun kudde bij een antieke bron 1767 - 1768

Salomon Gessner created this etching titled "Herders en hun kudde bij een antieke bron" or "Herdsmen and their flock at an ancient fountain" sometime in the late 18th century. During this time, there was an artistic interest in the pastoral and idyllic. Images such as these are a reminder of an idealized rural life, contrasted with the realities of industrializing Europe. Notice the tension between civilization and nature. The classical architecture of the fountain is juxtaposed against the organic wilderness. The people around the fountain seem to exist outside of contemporary society, hinting at the lives of the working class, while at the same time romanticizing them. The soft lines of the etching create a hazy and dreamlike atmosphere. This work invites us to reflect on our relationship with nature and the impact of progress on our collective imagination.