Herder en vee in een boomrijk landschap 1754 - 1808

Jan van Os made this drawing of a herder and cattle in a wooded landscape using pen and gray ink. Van Os lived through a period of significant social and economic change, including the rise of industrialization and urbanization. Here, he presents an idealized view of rural life, which often serves as a nostalgic counterpoint to the rapid transformations of society. It speaks to the longing for a simpler time, but it also risks romanticizing the labor and hardships faced by rural communities. Van Os, who was celebrated in his time, seems to be speaking to the bourgeoisie, as his art reflects the cultural values and tastes of the middle class who had the luxury to imagine a rural setting. Consider how this representation might differ from the lived experiences of those who actually worked the land, whose stories are often marginalized in art historical narratives.