Untitled c. 19th century

William B. Closson made this photogravure. In the image, we see a snapshot of American society. The man on horseback, accompanied by two others on foot, represents a leisure class with the means to enjoy the countryside. Made in the late 19th or early 20th century, the image is an example of the kind of art that became accessible to a wider audience through new reproduction technologies. It evokes a sense of rural tranquility, but also hints at social stratification. The figures' clothing indicates different levels of formality, reflecting the social hierarchy of the time. This artwork is commenting on social structures. Is it conservative or progressive? To understand this work more fully, one might research the economic conditions of the time, the rise of the leisure class, and the development of printing technologies. The meaning of this artwork is contingent on its social and institutional context.