Boeren met paarden en ander vee bij een beek 1780

Barend Hendrik Thier created this print of farmers with horses and other animals by a stream in the late 18th century. This idealized image of rural life taps into a long tradition of pastoral imagery. In the Dutch Republic, landscape art served a vital function in shaping national identity. Artists focused on the unique qualities of the local environment and often imbued these settings with a sense of moral purity. Here, the farmers pause by the stream with their livestock, the image celebrating the harmony of man and nature. At this time, the art market in the Netherlands was dominated by independent artists producing for a burgeoning middle class. Prints such as these made art affordable and accessible, and the image speaks to the values of its intended audience. To understand this work more fully, we can look at the artist’s biography, the history of Dutch landscape painting, and the economic circumstances of the print market at this time. These all serve to deepen our understanding of the image.