Landschap met doedelzakspelende herder 1613 - 1657

Nicolas Perelle created this print, "Landscape with Bagpipe-Playing Shepherd," in the 17th century. The image invites us to consider the cultural construction of pastoral life during this period. Bagpipe music, often associated with rural simplicity, might evoke a sense of nostalgia for a pre-industrial world. Yet, this idealized vision of shepherds and their flocks exists alongside symbols of wealth and power, such as classical architecture. Perelle was the son of a Parisian book merchant, and his landscapes reflect a sophisticated, urban gaze cast upon the countryside. We might ask ourselves, whose idea of the pastoral is being represented here? Who gets to imagine it? This tension between the real and the imagined resonates even today, as we continue to grapple with the complexities of nature, culture, and identity. This piece speaks to our longing for an uncomplicated past.