Gezicht op een dorp in Oost-Vlaanderen 1838 - 1888

Jean Pierre François Lamorinière made this etching, ‘View of a Village in East Flanders’, sometime in the 19th century. It depicts a pastoral scene with a cluster of buildings, a village church in the background, and some figures in the foreground. The work reflects a rising fashion for landscape art, but it also presents a very specific view of the Belgian countryside. At the time, Belgium was undergoing rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, and many artists were choosing to depict the countryside as an escape from the realities of modern life. One can also look at this work within the history of the art market. Etchings were becoming increasingly popular as a way for artists to reach a wider audience, and this work may have been intended for sale to middle-class collectors who were interested in art that reflected their values. Historians consult a range of sources to understand the context in which art is made; these could include the artist’s biography, letters, contemporary art criticism, and social and economic histories. By examining these sources, we can gain a deeper understanding of the meanings and values that were attached to art in the past.