Rokende boeren 1832 - 1885

Editor: So, this is Rodolphe Bresdin's "Rokende boeren", which roughly translates to "Smoking Farmers". It was made sometime between 1832 and 1885 using pen and ink. It feels like a quick glimpse into the past, a sort of social commentary sketched in a hurry. What do you make of it? Curator: It's fascinating how Bresdin captures these rural scenes. What's interesting to consider is how these depictions were received. Was this a romanticized view of peasant life, or something more critical? Remember, throughout the 19th century, images of rural life often served to reinforce certain societal values, or even political agendas. Do you see anything here that might hint at such an agenda? Editor: I don't know... Their posture almost suggests they are indifferent, even slothful, and detached from productive society, as seen in the drawing’s composition and the figures smoking away without a care. Curator: Exactly! And who was the intended audience for such a sketch? Was it aimed at urban dwellers who might hold certain preconceived notions about rural communities? We should also note the presence of what looks like a "poupée de chiffons", perhaps indicating children playing near. Editor: That's an important note about who these works were shown to at the time; I hadn't really thought of the implications in relation to the audiences perspective. Curator: Context is key. Considering the social and political climate, it challenges us to think about how art can reflect, reinforce, and even subvert societal norms. Editor: That's given me so much to think about regarding the role of images, beyond face value. Curator: Indeed, seeing the layers is the first step to understanding them, in my opinion.