Landscape with Shepherds and Shepherdesses near a Well 

Aelbert Cuyp painted this oil on canvas, Landscape with Shepherds and Shepherdesses near a Well, in the Dutch Golden Age. This work evokes a sense of pastoral harmony that reflects the cultural values and economic realities of the Netherlands at the time. Cuyp's idyllic scene presents an idealised view of rural life, but it also tells a story of a society undergoing significant transformation. The Netherlands in the 17th century was a rising commercial power. The focus on shepherds and shepherdesses can be understood as a commentary on the changing social landscape, where traditional rural life was increasingly juxtaposed with urban prosperity. How does Cuyp’s depiction of the rural working class serve to naturalize the burgeoning economic divide? To understand Cuyp's place in the canon, art historians consult period documents, economic data, and literature of the time. By studying these resources, we can better understand the complex interplay between art, society, and power.