Liggend schaap met lam 1814 - 1867

Jacques Raymond Brascassat made this drawing of a reclining sheep and lamb using chalk on paper. Brascassat was a French painter known for his landscapes and animal studies, and this work reflects the artistic trends of 19th-century France, particularly the growing interest in rural life. In the 1800's, as France underwent industrialization and urbanization, there was a cultural fascination with idealized images of nature and agriculture. Brascassat's drawing, with its soft lines and gentle subject matter, speaks to the nostalgia for a simpler, pastoral existence. Institutions like the French Academy promoted certain styles and subjects. The Barbizon school, a movement towards realistic landscape, was gaining traction. Understanding this drawing requires us to explore not only Brascassat's artistic technique, but the broader social and economic forces that shaped artistic production. By researching 19th-century French agricultural practices and the art market, we can understand the many ways in which art reflects and responds to its cultural context.