Herdsman and Cattle at Ford 1845 - 1855

Charles Jacque created this etching called "Herdsman and Cattle at Ford". Here, we observe a herdsman guiding cattle across a shallow river, the animals pausing to drink, framed by a dense forest. Jacque lived through a time of significant social and economic change in France, including the rise of industrialization and urbanization. His choice of subject matter—rural life and agricultural scenes—speaks to the nostalgic yearning for an idealized past, away from the rapidly changing modern world. The herdsman is a figure of labor, yet also one connected to the land and its rhythms. The image suggests a harmonious, perhaps romanticized, relationship between humans, animals, and nature. Jacque's work provides a window into the values and anxieties of 19th-century France, reflecting a collective desire to preserve a connection to the natural world. The print, with its delicate lines and tonal contrasts, invites us to reflect on our own relationship to labor, nature, and the enduring appeal of pastoral imagery.