Hyrdedrengen. Nr. 14 i Chr. Winther og M. Rørbye, "25 Billeder for små børn" 1846

Adolph Kittendorff made this print, titled *Hyrdedrengen*, as part of a series of images for children. The image depicts a shepherd boy asleep while his dog keeps watch over a herd of goats. Produced in Denmark, this print reflects the 19th-century interest in rural life and the idealized vision of childhood innocence and the social hierarchy. But such images played a key role in shaping cultural values for the next generation. This print would have instructed children on appropriate behavior, such as the importance of hard work and responsibility but from a very safe remove. Through close attention to the institutions, publications, and historical context in which art is made, we can understand the complex relationship between art and society. Historical research in archives and libraries can reveal the social function of art and its role in shaping cultural values.