Een man en een paard bij een put 1802

This is an etching of a man and a horse at a well, created by Joannes Bemme, who lived from 1775 to 1841, a time of significant political and social change in Europe, influenced by Enlightenment ideals and the rise of nationalism. Here, Bemme offers a glimpse into rural life, but it's also worth considering how class and labor are represented. The man, presumably a worker, is shown providing water to the horse, highlighting the reliance on animals for labor in agrarian societies. We could think about the relationship between man and animal, and how it reflects broader power dynamics within society. The wellbeing of working animals are directly correlated with the success of the farm. Bemme’s etching invites us to consider the often-overlooked narratives of labor, rural life, and the relationships between humans and animals in the broader context of 18th and 19th-century European society. It encourages reflection on the personal and societal values attached to work, care, and the natural world.