Pack-horse, seated man with staff in right hand, and dog, all viewed from the rear, from the series 'The Small Landscapes' 1641 - 1678

Karel Dujardin created this etching, "Pack-horse, seated man with staff in right hand, and dog, all viewed from the rear," as part of his "Small Landscapes" series. Dujardin was a Dutch Golden Age painter, and this image reflects the period’s fascination with the Italian countryside. But it's not just about pretty scenery. Instead, this work subtly reflects the economic realities of the 17th century. We see a common scene, likely painted from life, of a rural worker, his animal, and dog, resting. The presence of the pack-horse points to trade and transportation networks. Dujardin, who converted to Catholicism in Rome in 1675, may be commenting on the virtue of the ‘everyman.’ By looking at Dujardin's life, the history of the Dutch Republic, and the economy of the time, we can better understand the complex social forces that shaped this seemingly simple image. Art historians use various resources, like archival records and economic data, to reveal these hidden layers of meaning.