Twilight 1883

John Austin Sands Monks created this etching titled, *Twilight*, during a time when American art was grappling with rapid industrialization and urbanization. Monks, like many of his contemporaries, turned to pastoral scenes, perhaps as a form of escapism or a commentary on simpler times. Notice how the sheep huddle together, seeking shelter under a makeshift structure. There's a sense of vulnerability and dependence in their collective form. The single sheep standing apart from the group perhaps mirrors the anxieties of individuality versus community, a theme relevant then, as now. Monks doesn’t romanticize rural life, but neither does he offer a critique; instead, there is an acute observation of animal behavior within a specific environment. This artwork invites us to reflect on our own relationship with nature, community, and the search for refuge in a world of constant change.