Trofee met herdersattributen 1778

Etienne Claude Voysard created this print titled 'Trofee met herdersattributen' during a time when Europe's elite romanticized pastoral life. But behind this idealization lay complex social realities. The image presents a collection of objects associated with shepherding: a hat, musical instrument, and a cage, intertwined with foliage. During this period, depictions of rural life often served as a retreat from the complexities of urban society. However, this escapism was largely enjoyed by the privileged classes, while the actual lives of rural laborers were often marked by hardship and inequality. Consider the cage, for instance. It introduces ideas of captivity into the pastoral scene. It can remind us that while some dreamed of idyllic freedom, others were literally confined by their social circumstances. This image reflects both a longing for a simpler life and the social divides that made such a life unattainable for many.