Landschap met mannen die riet verzamelen 1791 - 1798

J.L.L.C. Zentner created this landscape with men gathering reeds, rendered through engraving, during a time of significant social stratification and economic disparity. In this artwork, two men are depicted in the act of harvesting reeds, a scene that speaks to the working class and their connection to the land. Their labor underscores the economic realities of the time. With the idyllic landscape, the image brings up questions of labor, class, and the romanticized view versus the harshness of daily life. The attention to detail in the landscape and the figures suggests an engagement with the natural world and the lives of those who work within it. Zentner's work invites us to consider the social and economic forces that shape both our perceptions of labor and the value we place on the land.