Boerderijen en water met eenden 1771

Nicolas Pérignon made this etching, Boerderijen en water met eenden, featuring farmhouses and water with ducks, likely in France, sometime around the 1770s. This print offers a glimpse into the visual culture of the late 18th century, reflecting the period's fascination with rural life. During this time, institutions like the French Academy played a central role in shaping artistic tastes and promoting certain styles. Pérignon, though lesser-known today, would have been navigating this established art world. We see the influence of Enlightenment ideals in the image's idealized depiction of nature and the simple life. The thatched-roof houses, the figures engaged in everyday activities, and the presence of ducks in the water all contribute to a sense of tranquility and harmony. To fully understand this work, we might turn to period sources such as agricultural surveys, architectural treatises, or even literature that romanticized rural existence. These resources help us to understand the social values and cultural meanings that Pérignon's etching would have held for its original audience.