Kudde schapen onder bomen 1870 - 1888

Constant Alexandre Famin captured this undated photograph, titled "Kudde schapen onder bomen," depicting a flock of sheep beneath the shade of trees. Famin's work offers us a glimpse into the rural life of 19th-century France. His photographs were made during a time of significant social and economic change. As urbanization and industrialization accelerated, artists like Famin turned to the countryside, perhaps seeking an idealized vision of pastoral existence. The image emphasizes the passivity and vulnerability of the animals, reflecting the hierarchical relationships between humans and animals, a dynamic deeply ingrained in agricultural societies. This photograph offers a subtle commentary on labor, class, and the human impact on the natural world. Famin invites us to consider the social structures that shape our perceptions of nature and our place within it.