Herdsman on Horseback Drives Animals 1641 - 1651

This etching was created by Stefano della Bella in the 17th century. The artwork depicts a herdsman on horseback driving animals. Set in the Italian countryside, we see this pastoral scene contained within a circle, a format which lends an ornamental quality to what would have been an everyday scene. Consider the location of this work within the private collection of a wealthy patron, or as part of an album of prints: the image of the herdsman takes on new meaning. It becomes less a document of lived experience and more a celebration of the Italian landscape, of the tradition of pastoral life, and of ownership over the land. To fully understand this artwork, we might want to dig into the social and economic structures of 17th century Italy. What was the relationship between landowners and laborers? How was the Italian landscape being represented in other art forms at this time? This kind of research can help us to see how this seemingly simple image is actually embedded in a complex web of social and cultural meanings.